Podcasts about elvish

Unbeknownst to a much younger James, Western sword and sorcery tropes, motifs were a big deal in gaming in 1980s Japan, and from that wellspring would arise one of the most enduring fantasy franchises in that nation. Record of Lodoss War has it all: goblins, dragons, wizards, thieves, and leggy Elvish women that a young Pemmy fell in love with. So come join our return to the world of tabletop gaming tropes in animation.And remember... it's Falis with an F, not a PH.

Quaranteam – Book 1: Part 12 The girls continue their pitches to Andy. Based on a post by CorruptingPower, in 25 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels. Nicolette smiled, shaking her head a bit. "I split from Josh the week after the party, because, well, it's not important, beyond the fact that he was a fucking asshole and I was sick of dealing with it. I haven't seen him in years now, and it's actually better that way. If he's dead, good, good riddance, fuck him, he deserved it. As for her partner, well, Bill wasn't a bad guy, although I never really talked much to him, or should I say I wasn't much permitted to talk to him, because he was from the old school of domination, with the leather whip and the iron fist, and he didn't like submissives giving him any back talk. Whitney was mostly happy with him, although she'd admitted to me a couple of times that she could've done without Bill's sadistic streak of inflicting pain on her. Pain wasn't really her thing. She didn't mind it from time to time, but it wasn't something she got off on. Bill did. But Bill died from the virus in April, leaving Whitney sort of lost and directionless." "I'm certainly not into inflicting pain on people, Nicolette, but I don't know that even on my best or worst days I could be fairly described as a dom." Nicolette giggled and waggled a finger in his direction. "You might have the other girls fooled, Master, but not me, and frankly, I don't think Ash buys it either. When I was pitching this to her yesterday, I pointed out to her that sexuality is, well, it's sort of like a menu at a Cheesecake Factory “ there are so many options that you are bound to find things you like just every once in a while, instead of every day. And you are a good and kind man, but I've also seen that sometimes you just want to take something, to claim something. There is a beast in you raging to get out, and I've tried to make sure I'm around to fill that need for you. We all heard it when you were having your first go at Taylor, and even Niko told me afterwards she thought you were holding back a little, like you were worried we might judge you for it, but your household loves you and trusts you, Master." The maid pushed the button and the image changed again, showing a head on almost portfolio picture of Whitney, her wrists bound together in rope, a collar around her neck, still wearing a bra, her hair pulled back into a ponytail, a very lustful look in her icy blue eyes drilling straight into the camera. "She took this photo just for you, Master. Nobody other than the three of us has seen it. Not only does she want to join the staff, she wants you to collar her. Hell, she said if you wanted to, she would even get tattooed or branded for you." "Branded?" Andy gasped suddenly. "I would never!" "Oh, I told her that, and she said that just made you sound even more dreamy, but wanted you to have that option on the table. She doesn't want to be one of your wives, because she says that would put her on equal level with you. She wants to belong to you. She's always going to be submissive, but do you have any idea how hard it's going to be for a single submissive woman to find a sexual partner right now, much less one who isn't a complete asshole? The biggest problem with the BDSM scene, in my eyes anyway, is that too many people don't respect boundaries, that they aren't respectful of one another. Whitney's never going to feel bad about not getting to sleep in your bed, but if you tell her to one night, she will, gladly, as long as it doesn't become a habit. When it comes to the house, she will be the kind of control freak you need running your digital life, but all that desperate need for control, that's why she likes to be completely out of control when it comes to her sexuality. Wearing a collar from you isn't a mark of shame; it's a thing of pride and beauty for her. And all of the women you have in this house, Master, they're all such wonderful and warm women, friendly and inviting, and even though we've told them time and time and time again that we're merely the staff, they're still treating us as friends, because we are their friends, even if we still work for you." Andy had been listening to all of this very intently, because the expression on Nicolette's face wasn't one of concern, but one of excitement, of enthusiasm, of pride. "Why'd she take a picture just for me?" "Because after Bill died half a year ago, she was aimless, and I got, well, to be blunt, I got very worried about her. I couldn't go and check up on her because of the quarantine, but we FaceTimed every day. We still do. And I've told her all about this house, about you, Master, and all your amazing partners, and about a month ago, Whitney started saying something I've been hearing a lot from her lately. 'I wish I had what you have.' She was waking up from her fugue state over the loss of Bill, and she wanted something again, for the first time in months. She wasn't just thinking about what her next meal was, or how to solve some routing problem at work. She had a genuine desire to introduce something, someone into her life again. You. This. All of this," the maid said, gesturing around her. "You two sound very close," Ash said. "I don't know that you made it clear to me just how close when you were presenting to me for practice." Nicolette nodded. "She's, well, she's probably my best friend, the person I can be myself with the most, and I'm worried about her. You have to understand, she's like an old watch that's been wound up too tightly. When I say she's a control freak, I might be understating the case, but before now she's always had that release valve of having Bill to take over for at least a few hours every week, where she wasn't allowed to have any control, and through that, all that pressure got released. You can give that to her again, Master." "Do you really think I'm a good match for her sexually?" Andy said. "I'd hate to bring her here and disappoint her." The French girl's face spread into a mischievous grin. "Like I said, Master, Whitney's going to be like me, not an everyday food, but definitely a delicious treat that you simply must indulge in now and then. And I'm a very good judge of character, so I want you to try and look me in the eyes and tell me that the idea of having a woman who literally will not lift a finger until you tell her to do so doesn't turn you on at least a little bit, to have such total control over a woman that she is waiting with baited breath for you to give her a command. I'll bet everything I own that you can't." Andy smirked and blushed a little bit. "I'm not sure there's many men who could say that. I certainly wouldn't want that if she didn't want that but,” Nicolette nodded vigorously. "But she does, she absolutely, positively, definitively does want that. From you. I think the biggest challenge you'd have with her is the feelings you'd have when you put the collar on her, because I can tell you, her one and only demand is that you collar her when she arrives, and that she only ever takes the collar off to bathe. I know you're going to have reservations about it, which is why I'm spending so much time reassuring you that this is ultimately what she wants. It's an odd thing for a man who describes himself as a feminist to do, collaring a woman, but realize, you are giving her what she wants “ the ability to not have to think for a bit." Ash grinned a little bit. "You forgot to tell him the final thing." Nicolette held her fingers to her mouth, trying to stifle a giggle once more, as she nodded. She then picked up the remote and clicked the button again, as the image advanced one more time. At first, Andy thought the image was the same, but then he saw it, resting atop of her bound wrists. A first edition of "The Demon Dies At Midnight," a small press book he'd done for himself before he'd started writing the Druid Gunslinger books, in many ways the precursor to the whole series. It was a short novel, more of a novella really, that Andy had written just to sort of test the idea of writing long form fiction, and while it shared some similarities with the Druid Gunslinger books, it was a stand alone tale about a freelance demon hunter who traveled the world, trying to find the demon that had laid a curse on him when he was a child. Andy had used a print on demand service for the book, and only 2000 copies had been sold before he had found a publisher for all his work, starting with the Druid Gunslinger books. His publisher had scooped up the rights to his first book along with the Druid Gunslinger books. Once they did, Andy had stopped the print on demand version of it, so those 2000 were all that was ever going to be printed with that cover, a touch more erotic than the publisher was comfortable with. He'd looked and the first editions were worth several hundred dollars on the secondary market now, even though copies of the second edition, the one done by his current publisher with its less racy cover, were available for ten bucks. "She's a fan of yours, Master, going back to the beginning. You can't see it, but that copy of your book is signed, by you, when you were doing signings in Santa Cruz." "She would've been living in Chicago when that book came out!" Andy laughed. "So you can't me she's been a fan of mine since then." "Oh, she bought it on the secondary market a couple of years ago, when she first started getting into your writing, long before I met you. She said it was worth it to have the original rather than a second edition. She reads loads and loads of sci fi and fantasy, but says you're an excellent writer, one of her favorites. When she found out you were my Master, she begged and pleaded with me to find some way for her to be able to join me. I told her I would keep my eye open for an opportunity, but that I didn't want to be disrespectful and ask you on my own." Andy clicked his tongue, shaking his head. "I told you that you could come to me with anything, Nicolette." "I know you did, Master, and thank you for that, but you have been wall to wall busy since you first arrived here a month or so ago, and there just never seemed to be an opportune moment until Hannah started talking to us about you being able to request people, which brings us all up to speed, here and now," she said, gesturing to the image behind her. "I don't just think she's an obvious yes, Master, I think she's the most obvious yes. And if you need a little help stoking the fires of the shades of a controlling bastard that hide inside that warm soul, you know I'm always willing to lend a hand or whatever you might need. Whitney and I have played together sexually before, and if she comes here, I have no doubt that she and I will be play partners again. You have a lot of amazing women on offer for you here, but this one has to be a slam dunk. Thanks for giving me the chance to introduce you to my best friend, and I can't wait to hear you tell me to invite her over." The maid pressed the button and the image of Whitney disappeared to be replaced by "Next: Niko" in white letters on a black background as she stood up and made her way to the door. Andy leaned over to Aisling. "Give me 5 10 minutes, okay?" Aisling grinned and nodded. "You're the boss, boss." He stood up quickly and made his way out into the hallway, closing the door behind him, as he moved quickly to catch up to Nicolette, just as she was about to reach the stairwell leading upstairs. "One sec, Nicolette," Andy said, "I have one more question for you." Nicolette smiled as she turned back to him, standing at the edge of the stairs. "Of course, Master, what can I " As soon as he was within reach of her, he grabbed her by the waist and spun her around, bending her forward until her back was nearly perpendicular with the wall, lifting her dress up and tugging her panties aside with one hand, unbuttoning his jeans with another. Before it even dawned on her what was happening, he lined the head of his cock up against her snatch and just shoved forward with one rough, penetrating thrust, sinking hilt deep as a groan was ripped from her throat, deep and sultry. "Was this what you wanted?" "Fuck yes, Master!" she whined, as he drew back and then thrust forward again with a harsh shove, forcing her cunt to swallow up his cock. Her hands reached before her, trying to brace herself, as he reached forward and grabbed her by the throat, making her stand upright, even while scooting forward as best she can, until her tits were mashed against the wall, her face tilted towards the ceiling, when he drew back and then punched forward again. "Is it wrong of me that your filthy little fuckmaid has been fingering her sloppy cunt thinking of her Master slamfucking her best friend?" Andy couldn't help but laugh about that, as he drew back again. "Is that the only thing you've been thinking about?" "Fuck!" she whimpered as he railed her again, lifting one of her legs to allow him to penetrate a little bit deeper. "You know that it isn't, Master. Your bratty little slut thinks about you all the time, imagining her Master doing so many dirty things to her." He shifted his hips a little bit, making sure he was good and slick, before he pulled her away from the wall and then moved her over to a table, forcing her forward, yanking her panties down to her ankles before tugging it off of her entirely. He grabbed the lacy underthing in his hand and then bent her over the table, pushing her knees to make her get a little bit lower, and before it could even register what he was doing, the head of his thick cock pressed against the rosebud of her asshole and just sunk through, greasing its way deep inside of her ass, lubed up with the drippy juices from her cunt. "Fuck oh fuck oh fuck you're fucking thick, Master, that's such a big fucking cock you've shoved up my tight young ass!" Nicolette whimpered, her voice squealing upward in pitch until it was a shrill shriek, more like a siren than a person. "I've been dreaming about being your stuffed little buttslut, Master, so just fucking hammer me already!" Andy had a weird notion, and he decided to follow through on it, as he reached around and stuffed Nicolette's panties into her mouth, and he could swear she clamped down even more tightly in excitement. Her hands were free, so if she wanted to, she could've pulled them out any moment. And yet, she didn't. Instead, the moans burbling from her throat grew more intense, her hips trying to push her ass back into his firm thrusts as much as she could. She was throwing her body back at him any which way she was able, but for the most part, she was simply getting railed, keeping as much of his cock buried inside of her ass for as much of the time as she could. After a minute or so, she started spasming and clamping down on his cock, and he couldn't resist, so he unloaded a heavy load of cum into her asshole, sweat dripping from his forehead against the back of her neck, until he softened enough to slip out of that tight pucker. When he leaned back, he tucked his cock away and pulled up his boxers and jeans, zipping them up, a wry smile on his lips as Nicolette turned around, an incredibly satisfied look upon her face. She pulled her panties from her mouth and that wild grin was the happiest he'd ever seen on Nicolette's face before. "Now that is how you fucking use me, Master," she purred with as much sensuality as she could. "And you have fucking earned keeping these for a bit." She leaned forward and tucked her panties into the front pocket of his jeans. "And don't worry, I'll fish them out of the laundry later." She tipped her head up and kissed him for a moment. "Thanks so much for that! Jesus! Au revoir!" Andy took his hand and wiped sweat from his forehead and grinned a bit to himself as he watched her head up the stairs. "Well then. Job done." When Andy headed back into the room, he found Aisling waiting with a shit eating smirk on her face. "Got your release valve off with the hired help?" she teased. Andy blushed a little bit, realizing that the door wasn't all that thick, and that he had taken Nicolette not all that far from the room, but then he decided he had nothing to be embarrassed about. "Look, she made it abundantly clear what she wanted from me, and so I damn well gave it to her," he said with a laugh, as he moved to sit down in his chair. "It had been over a week for her anyway, so she was due. You can tell Niko we're ready for her now." Niko was practically coming through the door when he said it. "She already knows. She was enjoying listening in on you giving Nicolette exactly what's she's been waiting for for a week now," she giggled. "And she, uh, I, I'm here now. How's presentations been so far?" Andy was about to answer out of reflex when he felt Aisling's hand on his arm, and heard her say, "No dirty snooker from you, missy. He's not tellin' you nuffin'." "He was about to, though," she winked at the redhead. Niko was in her uniform, something Andy had rarely seen her in, even though she wore it nearly every day. When she headed to the base, she always left before he got up, and she changed out of the uniform before she came home, so it was a little surprising to see her decked out in the formal wear. Her hair was up and pinned back, and she even had the chest candy on her uniform, as she'd been known to call it. "Going to present someone from the base?" Andy asked, suspecting it was the reason for the uniform. "You got it," she said, picking up the remote as she pushed a button as the image changed to a rather stern looking blonde woman in her mid forties with a hawkish nose. "I want to introduce you to Captain Tracy Bells, sir. She's a, y'know, we could do the whole thing, Ash, or we could just,” "It's yer call, Niko," the Irish redhead said to her, a conspiratorial grin on her face. Niko nodded, then motioned for Ash to come and join her, which she did, throwing Andy completely off guard. "Look, I'm not pitching Captain Bells to you, Andy," Niko said with a smile. "Because frankly, she's got a giant stick up her ass. I don't really have anyone to pitch you at all, to be frank. That's not why I'm here. It's a pretense." Andy tilted his head to one side. "Then why are you taking up a pitch slot?" "Well, it seemed like the best time that Ash and I could get you all to ourselves. For this," she said, pushing the button, as the image changed. In its place was a selfie that clearly Niko had taken just a day or two earlier, of her and Aisling. They each seemed to be holding something in their free hands, and just as it was dawning on Andy what they were, both girls spoke at the same time. "We're Pregnant!" Andy pointed a finger at Aisling, who nodded, then over at Niko, who nodded as well, then kept jumping his fingertip back and forth between the two of them as they both kept nodding, wild smiles on their faces. "What, both of you?" "Yep!" Niko said, giggling, as both her and Aisling started walking around the table, one on each side of it, closing in on him like a planned maneuver, leaning against the table, pinning him in his spot. "Most of your girls have synched up their time clocks, love," Aisling said, "So it was bound to happen to a couple of us at the same time. Niko and I are just glad it's us first." "Well, we sort of made sure that we were," Niko giggled. "I thought you were both on birth control still!" he said, although the smile on his face made it clear he wasn't upset. "Did everyone stop taking their birth control?" Aisling shook her head. "So far, I think we're the only ones who have." "We both stopped taking them a few months ago," Niko said. "When I started seeing and hearing the horror stories about the hospitals while I was working on base, I knew that this was going to happen, this or something like it, so I told Aisling and we just stopped taking our birth control pills, and well, here we are!" "I ran into town for the tests Saturday morning, and wouldn't you know it, two buns in two ovens, all from one chef!" Aisling said, as Andy wrapped his arms around both of them, hugging them intensely tight. "And you're both happy? I know you both did this intentionally, but sometimes people get second thoughts. I'm not! Getting second thoughts that is. I mean, I'm happy, I promise you I'm happy, but I want to be sure you're both happy." "We're ecstastic, hon," Niko said to him, nuzzling her face against his cheek. "We weren't sure when the best time to tell you would be, but when the whole pitching process started, we wanted to be sure you understood that maybe getting a nanny into the house wasn't such a wild idea." "Who knows?" Andy asked. "Just us and you," Aisling said. "We haven't told anyone yet." Andy kissed Niko, then Aisling, then Niko again, then Aisling again. "It's damn nice to have to some good news for once. So, should we go get lunch and tell the rest of the household?" "Sounds good to me," Andy said. "Niko?" "Absolutely," Niko said. As they headed towards the door, she leaned over and pushed the button on the remote, changing the slide so it was a black screen again with the words "Next: Piper." The last of the girls' pitches to Andy. Chapter 26 Lunch had been great fun. Once Aisling and Niko had told Andy, they'd wanted to tell everyone as soon as possible, so the moment they'd sat down for lunch, they'd told everyone straight out, which had led into a small celebration, and sort of let Andy slip into the background with his thoughts. Sure, the girls all congratulated him, but they were all much more interested in how Niko and Ash were feeling about everything, so Andy could do a little bit of his own research. When he had half a minute, he asked Katie for both more about Lexi, and what she thought of Jade Dillon. He also did a little bit of talking with Sarah about Maya Steele, since clearly they ran in similar circles. When he had a moment, he also pinged Hannah to see if she'd heard anything about Olivia Shoemaker, Asha's "influencer" friend. Finally, he asked Jenny about Katie's ex, Dr. Morgan Fitch. By the end of lunch, he almost wished he'd brought his yellow notepad with him. It was a lot of names, a lot of opinions and thoughts to keep from getting scrambled around in his brain. But his own opinions were starting to bake in, to settle and coalesce into something more solid. His mind was so wrapped up in his thoughts, he almost overlooked how lunch was, as it always was, amazing. He made sure to tell Jenny just how excellent it was, and she said he could thank her by making sure to bring Alexis into the family. He didn't answer her, but his smile probably gave him away. He didn't mind. When they were walking back towards the meeting room, Aisling slipped her arm around his waist, leaned in and kissed his cheek. "You're happy Niko and I are expectin', right, love?" She had a smile on her face, so she was simply reinforcing what she already knew. "Sometimes you can bit understated 'bout these kinds of things." Andy chuckled a little, leaning down to kiss her forehead. "You know that I am, Ash. I'm sorry if I seemed a little distant at lunch. This is just a lot of information to take in all at once, lots of people to consider, lots of decisions to make. Shit, people's lives and livelihoods hang in the balance of my stupid judgment. The decisions I'm going to make tomorrow have real, genuine consequences, things I gotta live with for the rest of my life, and I don't want to let anyone down. Turning anyone down feels like  " "Stop," Ash said, holding him from walking any further. "I told you up front that nobody was going to hold anything against you, and we're all going to honor that. You didn't have to let anyone have a say, and you're letting everyone have a say. That's all anyone has the right to ask of you." She sighed, then laughed for a second. "Jaysis, if it was me, I'd have thrown the towel in and just taken nobody, but you're not doing that, despite the fact that nobody would've blamed you if you did. Instead, you set down what your reasonable capabilities are, and everyone agreed to them. So stop getting in your own damn way and just get on with it already." He had to laugh with her at that point, nodding in agreement. "Okay, okay, I get it. No more moping about this, and no more overthinking it. Just listen to the pitches, make my decisions and move forward with our lives. I'll hold you to nobody being mad, though." "Everybody knows what's coming down the pipeline, Andy," Ash said. "It'll be alright. I promise you, it'll all be alright. Now let's get these last four underway. There's still a few surprises left to spring on you, and it's always fun to watch your expression when you're caught off guard." "What kind of crazy surprises do you have lined up for me?" he said, as Piper strode through the door confidently, dressed in her Team USA gear, some sort of warm up suit. He was certain she wasn't wearing the full Olympian gear underneath it, but the very presence of the outfit seemed designed to send a message. "You should know she doesn't have anything planned for you, Andy," Piper said, smirking at him. "This is all us." "How are you feeling, Piper? Head starting to clear up? Starting to feel more like yourself again?" Andy asked. "A lot better, yeah. The first few days, it was like, I dunno, like I was walking through fog, like every inch of my body was coated in maple syrup," the brunette volleyball player said, looking around the room a bit before looking back at Andy. "I was living in quicksand, but over the last couple of days, all of that's been lifting and I've felt mostly like myself again. I've been trying to get back on my work out regimen, so that's helped some. But I think the further I get away from that state, the better off I'll be." She looked better, there was no denying. Her eyes didn't have the dark, heavy bags underneath them that they had when they first met. She'd also put a little bit of weight back on, but Andy suspected that was because she had been massively dehydrated when they'd first met. He was glad to see her coming back into being her full self. "A couple more weeks and I'll be right as rain again. But that's not why I'm here today." "Yeah, well, it doesn't hurt for me to ask about you first." "Yeah yeah," Piper said, as she picked up the remote, pressing the button as a Nordic looking blonde appeared on the screen. "I don't know how much you follow the Olympics, but if you do, you might recognize my friend Brooke Maloney here. She's being hyped as the next big thing for the woman's swim team. She's going to enter a number of various swim competitions,  breast stroke, freestyle, relay,  but obviously there aren't any games this year, and she's going out of her mind swimming laps in the compound's pool." The blonde, much like Piper, looked fit, although she looked much shorter in comparison, with broader shoulders and a wide smile on her face, sitting at a table full of athletes. Piper pushed the button again and the screen advanced to a new image, one of Piper and Brooke sitting on a blanket at some outdoor concert. "What do you mean 'compound?'" Andy asked. "A lot of the soon to be Olympians were at the US Training Camp, putting in a hard six months before the Olympics," Piper said. "Me and the rest of the volleyball team were going to be diverted there when the lockdown had been going for a few months, but it was deemed 'too risky' for any of us to be moved. Well, up until our dear Mister Covington decided to scoop me up and tried to make me into his own personal plaything. Thanks again for rescuing me from that, by the by." "I'm just glad you're not mad it's me you're bound to." "We've been over this, Andy," she sighed, a polite smile on her face. "I'm happy it was someone as nice as you. Let's move things forward. Now, one of the dirty little secrets you may not have heard about the Olympics is that after an athlete competes in their particular event, they go back to the Olympic village and they let off all that pent up steam that's been building in them for years. I haven't had a chance to experience myself personally, but our trainers and coaches have been telling us about it for as long as we've been old enough to hear the stories. I don't need that pressure valve any more because, well, I have you. But my friend Brooke, well, she doesn't have that." She pushed the button and the image advanced to another picture of Brooke, this time in Daisy Duke cutoff jean shorts, a white tied up shirt and a wide brimmed stetson hat, somewhere at a country bar, a Corona in hand with a lime. Her blonde hair was done up in short pigtails, which looked odd on her by Andy's reckoning. "Brooke and I have been friends for a couple of years now, and believe me, the Olympics is literally all she thinks about," Piper said. "She wants to win gold medals so much it, it's eating her up inside. Now with the 2020 games being pushed back until at least 2021, she's going out of her mind, like a predator able to see its prey under glass but not being allowed to hunt it." Piper pushed the button and the picture changed to an image of Brooke leaning against a Shelby Cobra, dressed in overalls, covered in grease, a wrench in her hand. "Her only other real passion is classic cars. She's something of a gearhead, and any time she's not training, she's working on cars. She's done more than a couple frame off restorations and more than a handful of heavy mods. She's had a couple of boyfriends over the years, but they never last all that long." "So what's she like in the sack, Pipes?" Ash asked her. "She's about as vanilla as they come," Piper answered. "She likes things slow and steady, smooth and soft. But she'll be a good lover, and a good friend." "Complications you anticipate?" Andy asked. "You're from pretty different worlds, but I've often been told that opposites attract, so maybe that won't be as big an issue as I think it might be," she shrugged. "You're pretty rock'n'roll, and she's a country girl at heart. You're a big city guy and she's a small town girl. She's at church every Sunday and I'm pretty sure you're an aethist. So maybe that's all too much to scale, but then again maybe it isn't. I'm sure whatever you decide, it'll be the right decision." Piper pushed the button and the screen advanced again, back to a black screen, with the words "Next: Sarah" in a cartoonish white lettering. "Any reason you didn't suggest any of the other girls from your volleyball team, just out of curiosity?" Andy asked. "I would've figured they would've been some of your best friends." The brunette smirked, flashing him a little wink. "Oh they are, but there's no way in hell I'm sharing my man with the likes of them. Let'em find their own hunk and they can keep their sticky fingers off of mine." With that, Piper headed out of the room, leaving the door open behind her, striding confidently down the hallway. "So, just to warn you about the next one, Andy, we do know in advance that you have met her a couple of times, but in the pictures we've seen, you always looked friendly, so we're going off that," Aisling said to him, as she texted Sarah to head to the conference room. "If we're wrong in those assumptions, ye can tell us and we'll let the matter drop then and there." "Oh yeah?" Andy said, suddenly wondering what familiar face was going to grace the screen in moments. "Where do I know her from?" The Irish redhead waggled a finger in his direction. "Just be patient, love. She'll up and in front o' ya in just a minute or two." Andy rolled his eyes with a grin. "Then what's the harm in telling me early?" "The harm is Sarah will have my tits in a wringer if I spill the goss before she's here." "Good lord, you girls and your secrets," he muttered in amusement. The statuesque redhead arrived moments later, and she immediately came over to hug Aisling, a giggle slipping from Sarah's mouth. "Congrats again, Ash," Sarah said to her. "I didn't want to say it in front of the others, but I am totally fucking jealous of you right now, you wouldn't even fucking believe me how jealous I am. Today is obviously the day I stop taking my birth control, because, damn, my clock is ticking, girlfriend." Ash shook her head with a mischievous grin. "You don't want to wait until you're a little more settled in first, Sarah? Or until you're married?" Sarah pulled back from the hug, looking over at Andy, licking her lips with a wild smile. "Shit, if I thought I could get him to do it, I'd beg him to fuck me until I was knocked up right here on this table, right here and now. But I've only got ten minutes, so maybe I should just get to the presentation." Andy gestured to the remote with a smile. "Maybe." "One thing first, though." Sarah had come into the meeting in a dress skirt and a dark red silk blouse, but she turned around, did something, then turned back, bringing a glistening finger to Andy's lips before the actress slipped it into his mouth, and he could taste her cunt on it. "Just so you know how much the idea of you breeding me turns me on." She winked at him as she pulled her fingertip from his lips and walked back to the other side of the table. "On with the show, Sares," Aisling poked. "Yeah, totes, Ash, I'm getting' there." Sarah picked up the remote and clicked the button, as the screen behind her flickered to life. "Oh look! It's you! And you're with one of my other total favorite writers, Larissa Cotton!" Andy immediately recognized the shot. It was taken about five years ago, at DragonCon. Andy hadn't wanted to go, but he'd been nominated for a Hugo, an award he'd ended up winning, for "Behind The Darkest Sky," the most successful of the Druid Gunslinger novels, partially because it was the most risky of the books. When Andy had written it, he'd almost thought it might be the end of the series if it didn't work, if the audience didn't trust him to stick around long enough to see the story continue in the next one. He'd left the Gunslinger in a hell of a mess at the end of the book, and while he was over half way through writing the next one when "Behind The Darkest Sky" had come out, he'd still been in a very nervous place about going to a convention. At the Hugo awards for the night, he'd found himself sat with a handful of authors he hadn't met before that night, including Larissa Cotton, a Hispanic woman from Portland who'd written an amazing book called "Ions At Dawn," a technothriller about a woman who finds herself grappling with an archaeological find that threatens to rewrite the basic underpinnings of science. Andy had read all the nominees and found her book fascinating, although maybe a bit too heady for the average reader. Larissa was nothing like any writer he'd ever met before. She was brash, confident, boisterous and outspoken, the loudest presence in any room, and yet, never in a harsh way. She was a plus sized woman, thick but not in an unappealing way. The silver hoop in her nose had been a little off putting, and Andy had found the overwhelming number of tattoos more than a little distracting, almost perhaps no more than the goth Lolita look meets skater punk she'd been rocking at the party. They'd gotten along reasonably well, although Larissa had gotten rip roaringly drunk by the end of the night. Andy and a couple of others had needed to help her back to her hotel room, since she was nearing blackout stages by the end of the night. Andy and Larissa had reminded occasionally in contact since then, but they certainly weren't what Andy would describe as close. They'd met up a couple of times in the years since, but generally it had just been if they'd been in the same town, and then only within a group of people. "Larissa lives up in Portland," Andy said. "Sure, but that can change," Sarah said. "I mean, Emily and I both lived in LA until we moved here. Asha's lived most of her life in London and Piper spent most of her life in Florida. People move, Andy. That can't be an excuse." "Well, no," Andy laughed, "but she was also engaged last I heard." "Wait, what?" Sarah asked. "I talked to her like three months ago, and she didn't mention it, and I didn't see any engagement ring." He shrugged. "Maybe I misheard, or maybe they called it off. It was a couple of years ago, when a bunch of us were getting drunk after our ComicCon panels. She said she'd just sold the film adaptation rights to 'Ions At Dawn' to somebody and we all went out to celebrate." Aisling nodded. "She sold the rights to Sarah, as a matter of fact." The taller redhead pushed the button on the remote and the screen advanced to an image of Sarah and Larissa at a conference table shaking hands. "My production company, Awkward & Dorky Films, to be more specific. We agreed to let her give us a first draft if she agreed to go through the notes and revisions process without too many complaints." "Heh," Andy smirked. "And 'Ris agreed to that? Talk about being prickly to editors. She damn near took my head off when she had me read a first draft of her third book, 'Castle of Yesterdays,' and I gave her notes on it." "It totally couldn't have been as bad as you're making it out to be, Andy," Sarah teased. "Don't be such a baby. Suck it up." "I believe she told me that I could roll up my notes and shove them into my cock until I was crapping them out," he said. "Fuck," Sarah muttered. "You must've been really hard in those notes." "Not really?" He shrugged a little. "I mean, I offered some opinions and I told her that a couple of the chapters went on too long with nothing happening, and that the climax felt overly weak but that it was a great first draft. I mean, I liked the book a lot. But that's what you do with first drafts,  show them to someone, figure out what works and what doesn't, then make a real book out of it." "I liked 'Castle of Yesterdays,' though, Andy!" Sarah whined. "Sure!" he said, waggling a finger at her. "You just read the final version, which went through about six revisions. And, for what it's worth, she ended up using most of my notes. I mean, I didn't hold it against her that she didn't like getting notes. Every author can be a little bit of a prima donna sometimes." "Well, as of July, I don't think she was married or engaged or whatever, and she's completely rad. Also, you two get along, because you've obviously gone out for dinner and drinks before, and she trusted you enough to let you read her first draft of a new book, so that seems good enough to me, don't you think?" "I mean, we weren't close friends, but we were, er, are friendly acquaintances. I don't know that either of us thought the other was their type, though. She seemed to be into people who were way more of the 80s skateboard punk ethos than me." "You saw her with a man at some point?" "Oh yeah," Andy said, "Well, no. I mean, not directly, but she showed me a picture of her and 'her man,' she called him. He was big, fit fellow. Broad shoulders, six pack. About as far from me as any man can possibly get. He looked like he could've bench pressed me for hours without breaking a sweat, and she, well, she looked happy." Sarah shrugged a little bit. "Whoever he was, Andy, he completely didn't last, because when she and I were meeting to discuss our notes for the screenplay, she was sniping about how she hadn't had a proper lay in months. So big and hunky didn't work for her, so maybe you could. I know she thinks you're cute. I told her I had a crush on you and she said 'Well, who could blame you?' so I think she does too." "How well do you know her, Sarah?" The taller redhead shrugged. "Not all that well, but she's been nice to me, and she's someone you know, so maybe that could be something that would work for you." "Do you have any idea whether or not we'd be sexually compatible?" Sarah shrugged with a smile. "It's never come up, so I don't have any idea." "Possible challenges?" "Two writers in the same room might always want to be editing one another?" she giggled. "I genuinely don't know, Andy. But I thought it was a good idea so I wanted to suggest it." "Fair enough then." "One last thing before I go," Sarah said, pushing the button to advance the screen to an image that read "next: Sheridan" on it in a frilly cursive font. "I was telling you at lunch that I think bringing Maya Steele into the family is a great idea, so I wanted to stress that while I haven't changed my mind on that, I did forget to tell you not to ever get into a drinking contest with her. Your head will hurt and your liver will be punching you for days." "And yet, you still think I should bring her in?" Sarah nodded emphatically. "Maya's a bad ass, and you need someone as direct as her in your life. I mean, Neeks handles most of that, but really, Maya's got her beat hands down." "Are you trying to convince me not to bring her in? Someone more direct than Niko?" "It'll be fine, Andy," Sarah said, flipping her hair with one hand. "I already know you're going to pick her, so trust me when I tell you that is the correct decision to make." "And if that isn't the decision I'm making?" "Then you're being a fucking idiot and you'd better come to your senses before your final decision, because no man should be allowed to be that fucking stupid. Obvs. But I know you're totally not and you're really just fucking with me, and that's cool," she said as she walked around the table before leaning down and kissing him firmly, pressing her lips against his for a long moment. "Have fun with the rest of the pitches!" As Sarah walked out of the room, Aisling shook her head while sending the message to Sheridan for her to make her way up to the pitch room. "It can be very hard to remember she's been nominated for an Oscar when she acts like that," the smaller redhead said. "But I guess it's part of her 'girl next door' charm. Anyway, what did you think? You're not mad about Sarah pitching Larissa?" "Why would I be mad?" he laughed. "I just don't know that it'd work. But it's something I'll definitely consider when I'm doing my deliberations, especially since Sarah seems to think Larissa might be into me. I never got that vibe, but  " "But it's well established you barely know a woman's into you even when she's sitting in your lap and whispering into your ear that she wants you to fuck her brains out." Andy gave her a disapproving smirk. "I'm not that bad." "You're not far from it, anyway." Sheridan came strolling into the room, wearing what she had at lunch, far less dressed up than most of the girls, wearing jean shorts over a leotard or a swimsuit, her frizzy blonde hair mostly tucked back, damp but not soaked. Andy half wondered if she'd been swimming in the pool while she'd been waiting. Sheridan had been known to enjoy swimming, even though the weather was dipping into the cooler side. Since her job as a performer was on hold until the pandemic was under control, she'd done her best to find ways to occupy her time. "Heya stud," she said with a wink as she wandered over to sit down in the chair. "I'm not gonna ask you if you've made decisions yet, but I am gonna ask how you're feeling about the process so far. It's hella cool that you're giving us input into that, and it's a big deal, so thanks for that. Anyway, I think you're gonna find my friend a wild ride." "Let's get to it then," Andy said. Sheridan picked up the remote and pushed the button as the screen popped to life, a image of Sheridan sitting with a young woman in her late 20s or early 30s, with jet black hair and skin the color of desert sand. She was a little more on the plump side, with a mischievous smile. They were sitting at a wood table on the patio of some local bar. "This is my friend Tala Jordan," the blonde said. "Her parents immigrated here from Iran in 1970. We met in high school and became besties. She's the one who talked me into quitting smoking. We were roommates in college down at Santa Cruz and we've been roomies on and off again since we both graduated in 2012." "Why do I feel like I've seen her somewhere before?" Andy said, the woman's face looking vaguely familiar in a way he simply couldn't place. "You go to a lot of concerts, Andy?" "Some." "Well, then she's probably been singing with an opening band you've seen at a concert." Sheridan pushed the button and the image advanced, showing Tala playing an electronic keyboard on a stand, and singing into a microphone. He recognized the stage as The Independent, a small but influential club in San Francisco that also tended to get some big name acts. "Boom Goes The Dynamite, Castle Idea, The Grendelles, Lowball Skyscrapers, Girls Gone Danger, hell, probably at least half a dozen more that I can't remember. Every time I talk to her, it seems like she's got some new band she's playing with." "What does she do when she's not playing in a band?" Aisling asked. Andy was certain she probably already knew the answer to the question and was simply asking for his benefit. "She's a carpenter," Sheridan said, pushing a button to advance to a slide of Tala working on a desk. "More specifically, she's a cabinetmaker, most of the time, anyway. She and a couple of her friends opened their own custom furniture house about five years ago, and people really like their stuff, because that's kept her afloat while living in the Bay, although to be fair, she's also gotten a very specific kind of clientele as of late." "What's that?" Andy asked. Sheridan pushed the button again, and the new image showed Tala sitting on top of a desk with dozens of shelves, a hutch atop it that had a number of closed doors on it. "She's become a puzzle maker. Custom puzzle boxes, puzzle desks, that kind of thing. It's a weird little niche, but it pays incredibly well, and she's made stuff for people like Kris Angel, Neil Patrick Harris and Elon Musk. Those projects usually take a month or two's worth of work, but they pay for an entire year or two's worth of mortgage, so she's okay with it." "Fascinating. What's she like as a person?" "She's wicked smart and very funny." She pushed the button and the image advanced again, showing the two of them standing on the Golden Gate bridge, their backs to the Bay. It must have been extremely windy on the day the picture was taken, because both women were doing their best to keep their hair from flying all over the place. Both girls were clearly laughing hysterically. "Some people think she can come across as a bit mean, but they just don't recognize she's only busting their balls a bit. She always told me that the Persian sense of humor can go over the heads of people not smart enough to keep up with her, and that she doesn't mind. She's a lot like Niko, and considering how much you and she get along, I think you'll dig Tala loads." Andy nodded. "Do you think she and I would be sexually compatible? What's she want out of a man?" Sheridan grinned from ear to ear and Andy immediately wondered what he'd said to trigger such a reaction. "If you had asked me two weeks ago, I would've given you an entirely different answer than the one I can give you today, dude. So when I told her about the whole imprinting process, and all about the accident we had with me getting primed early, I expected to see Tala be hella concerned about me, but instead, she got this freaky look on her face, and I realized about half way through my story that she was jilling off, while I told her about it. It turned her on so much she just couldn't help it," the blonde said, licking her lips with wolfish delight. "I'd never known before, but she's always had this pheromone fetish. Like, she gets turned on by the idea of being so turned on that she doesn't have control of her self, that she's turned into some carnal unstoppable beast who is going to fuck even if she has to move hell to get it." Andy swallowed a mouthful of air awkwardly. "When I told her about your first encounter with Piper, I swear to god, she fucking came just hearing about it. She wasn't even touching herself at that point, 'cause she was holding the phone with both hands. I asked her about it, and she said she was kinda embarrassed to talk about it, but admitted that it'd always been a fetish of hers. I found out all of this yesterday when I called to ask her if she'd be interested in me putting her forward for a chance to join you." "And I take it that the tales of the imprinting process only enhanced her interest?" "Totes. Obvs she wants to be here, but she also wants you to edge her all the time." "What do you mean edge her?" "She asked what happens when you try and stretch out the amount of time a girl needs to get her dose, and I told her your story about you and Lauren, and she wants to constantly be going towards that state. That turns her on like you wouldn't imagine. So seems to me like you get multiple ticks in the win column by bringing her here." "Possible challenges?" "Well, being quarantined in New Eden's gonna be rough on her, because she's big into spending time with her parents. She moved into their house when the pandemic started, and I know when people come into New Eden, they can't leave until the pandemic's over, so you'll need to make sure she understands that, but I'm betting the idea of getting to live out her number one sexual fantasy, like, all the fucking time might be enough to convince her that her folks will be okay on their own." "How close are you two, Sheridan?" "She's, like, one of my best friends, maybe my best friend, actually. I think you'd like her a lot. I know we haven't spent, like, loads of time together, but she really wants this, and you've got me, and you seem to like me well enough, so maybe you'd like her too, y'know?" Andy nodded with a smile. "Okay then. Thanks for talking to me about her, and I'll be letting everyone know tomorrow what my decisions are." "Yep, I got the spiel on the rules from Ash before we got started, so I know how it works," she said, pressing the button to advance the screen once more, bold white letters reading "next: Taylor" on the black background. "Just remember, while we all gotta live with'em, you're the one who's gonna have to fuck'em every couple of weeks, so don't take anyone you don't wanna dip your wick into on the regular, y'hear?" With that, Sheridan headed out of the room, leaving Andy and Aisling alone in the room again. "I didn't even know there was a fetish for that kind of thing." "You live near San Francisco, love," Aisling teased. "You more than anyone should know there's a fetish for every kind of thing. And nobody's judging. If it's not your thing, no problem. If it turns you on thinking about it, no problem. To thine own self be true, like Polonius said." "You know it's meant to be bad advice when he says it in Hamlet, right?" Andy replied. "Don't be such a geezer about it." "I'm a writer, Ash. Being a geezer about the English language is right there in the job description." Taylor knocked on the door, and had to be told twice to come in. She was actually dressed in clothing now, Lauren obviously having made an exception for the day, as the girl was still in her time of punishment. Andy wasn't sure that Lauren would make her go the whole month, but as of yet, the Aussie had shown no sign of suddenly doling out leniency. Taylor had on a pair of gym shorts and a white muscle t shirt that did very little to mask her impressive bust, but her hair was drawn back into a modest ponytail, high on her head, done up in a scrunchy. "So I'm the last one, huh?" she said, as she came into the room, looking at the chair then looking at Andy expectantly. "Sit, sit," Andy said. "If she's letting you get dressed to pitch, I'm sure she's fine with you sitting in a chair while you go through the whole process. And if she wasn't, I'm certain she would have said something." "Yeah, I guess you're right," Taylor said, finally moving to sit down in the chair. "Uh, hi! I did want to be sure and say thank you for letting us all do this, sir. I know you've been a little overwhelmed by all the female attention you've been getting, but it's very kind of you to allow us to suggest our friends to you, to make this home a little more like home." "Just as long as none of you get mad if I don't choose the people you pitch," Andy said. Taylor's bright blue eyes widened and she shook her head. "Oh,

How weird is it to make your own language? Find out as we discuss J.R.R. Tolkien's "A Secret Vice", in which he describes his own evolution in making languages, the beauty in such a hobby, and language itself being an art form. Follow us on X! Give us your opinions here!

Can the Vatican enter Eurovision? What's the deal with the delegation delays? And what would Marina's darts nickname be? With Eurovision just around the corner Richard & Marina bring your burning Eurovision questions to Executive Supervisor Martin Österdahl and Brand Director Martin Green.
 Plus, we talk Klingon, Elvish and Klanger - how are fake languages for movies are created, and how you can get a degree in them. The Rest Is Entertainment AAA Club: Become a member for exclusive bonus content, early access to our Q&A episodes, ad-free listening, access to our exclusive newsletter archive, discount book prices on selected titles with our partners at Coles, early ticket access to future live events, and our members' chatroom on Discord. Just head to therestisentertainment.com to sign up, or start a free trial today on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/therestisentertainment. The Rest Is Entertainment is proudly presented by Sky. Sky is home to award-winning shows such as The White Lotus, Gangs of London and The Last of Us. Visit Sky.com to find out more For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com Assistant Producer: Aaliyah Akude Video Editor: Kieron Leslie, Charlie Rodwell, Harry Swan, Adam Thornton Producer: Joey McCarthy Senior Producer: Neil Fearn Head of Content: Tom Whiter Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Hero crew returns to the Elvish lands of the Skal woods.   Song Of The Severed Moon is presented by the Adventurers' Vault. (https://www.theadventurersvault.com/) Campaign information can be found here: https://www.theadventurersvault.com/song-of-the-severed-moon/ Rich is your GM and guide for Song Of The Severed Moon Heroes Ethan plays Garrok the Orc, a former assassin turned Cleric […]

In the first of five special episodes to celebrate this podcast's 300th episode, focused on J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy epic The Lord of the Rings, this episode summarises how Tolkien's life experiences, from childhood tragedies to the horrors of war, deeply influenced the themes of his stories. They reflected the complexity of human nature, shaped his creation of Elvish languages, and how Tolkien's love of linguistics led to Middle-Earth - the home of his beloved Hobbit Bilbo Baggins, but also the world he then extended from The Hobbit to create The Lord of the Rings. With several failed attempts struggling to adapt the "unfilmable" material, including one which would have starred The Beatles, animator Ralph Bakshi had first expressed an interest in making a version of The Lord of the Rings in 1957. It would take twenty years for him to get his opportunity, but even then the Dark Lord's forces were against him.Enter producer Saul Zaentz, who stumped up the cash to buy the rights to Tolkien's work, and allowed Bakshi control over his ambitious, passionate attempt to make an animated version of the books, in two parts.Bakshi would choose to shoot an entire live-action film first to use as a visual reference to rotoscope the animation, which was a controversial, expensive and time-consuming choice, but it would lead to a young Peter Jackson becoming inspired to read the novels and find out more...I would love to hear your thoughts on The history of The Lord of the Rings & The Lord of the Rings (1978) !Verbal Diorama is now an award-winning podcast! Best Movie Podcast in the inaugural Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards and is also now nominated for the Earworm Award at the 2025 Golden Lobes.CONTACT.... Twitter @verbaldiorama Instagram @verbaldiorama Facebook @verbaldiorama Letterboxd @verbaldiorama Email verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] com Website verbaldiorama.comSUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....Give this podcast a five-star Rate & Review Join the Patreon | Send a Tip ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMAVerbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free. Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique StudioPatrons: Claudia, Simon, Laurel, Derek, Cat, Andy, Mike, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Lisa, Sam, Jack, Dave, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Pete, Heather, Danny, Aly, Stu, Brett, Philip M, Xenos, Sean, Ryno, Philip K, Adam, Elaine, Kyle & Aaron.This podcast uses the following third-party services...

Welcome to my podcast. I am Doctor Warrick Bishop, and I want to help you to live as well as possible for as long as possible. I'm a practising cardiologist, best-selling author, keynote speaker, and the creator of The Healthy Heart Network. I have over 20 years as a specialist cardiologist and a private practice of over 10,000 patients. In this podcast, Dr. Warrick Bishop interviews Barrie Elvish, CEO of AUSactive, an organization focused on promoting physical activity and fitness in Australia. With heart disease being a significant issue, the podcast aims to educate listeners about the importance of exercise in maintaining health. AUSactive serves as a non-profit industry association representing nearly 3,000 businesses in the fitness sector and advocates for increased physical activity among Australians. They have launched the "Million Moves" campaign to encourage community participation in various forms of exercise over a 21-day period, aiming to foster healthier lifestyles. Barrie emphasizes that exercise is crucial for extending healthy lifespans and mitigating chronic diseases. He shares his personal journey with mental health and the role of physical activity in maintaining his well-being. The discussion highlights the need for government investment in preventive health measures rather than solely focusing on healthcare supply. Barrie calls for a public health campaign to promote exercise, drawing parallels to successful past initiatives. The podcast concludes with a reminder of the importance of living a healthy life and the potential benefits of regular exercise.

Frodo's journey through the wilds takes a dramatic turn as the wounded hobbit nears the Ford of Bruinen. This episode explores three pivotal moments from the chapter Flight to the Ford in The Fellowship of the Ring. First, Sam Gamgee reveals his hidden depth through an imaginative troll-song, echoing Tolkien's ideas on fairy stories and the role of poetry in Middle-earth. Then, the hobbits encounter the buried remnants of Bilbo's earlier adventure, signaling the final narrative departure between Bilbo and Frodo. Finally, the mysterious rider Glorfindel arrives—not Arwen, as seen in the films, but a radiant elf-lord with deep roots in the First Age. With insights into Elvish reincarnation, the symbolism of bells and light, and the layered history behind Glorfindel's return, this episode highlights Tolkien's brilliance in mythmaking and the layered reality of his world.Part 3 of 4 exploring "Flight to the Ford" from JRR Tolkien's Fellowship of the Ring.Share this episode using this link:ringspodcast.com/210Who are you?Please tell me a little about you: ringspodcast.com/surveyWander Farther: A Free Chapter GuideDownload my free chapter guide for "Flight to the Ford": ringspodcast.com/flightDeals for you, my fellow wandererExclusive discount for Lore of the Rings Listeners: 25% off your entire order at Manly Bands. Details at https://www.ringspodcast.com/p/rings/Download my FREE guide for reading Tolkien's Silmarillion: https://ringspodcast.kit.com/a982347493Want to sponsor the Lord of the Rings?Sponsor rates, details, and inquires hereSupport Lore of the Rings with a donationAbout the Lore of the Rings PodcastContact the show, donate, and find past episodes: ringspodcast.comEmbark on an immersive journey through the captivating realms of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, where the epic sagas of the Lord of the Rings, the Hobbit, the Silmarillion, and Unfinished Tales, and more come to life. Join us as we delve into the rich tapestry of Tolkien's masterful storytelling, drawing intriguing comparisons between his literary works and the cinematic adaptations crafted by Peter Jackson. Be at the forefront of the latest developments as we explore the highly anticipated Rings of Power series from Amazon. Prepare to be enthralled as we uncover hidden connections, untold tales, and delve into the depths of Middle-earth lore. Tune in now and become part of our fellowship on this extraordinary journey!This podcast is not affiliated with the Tolkien Estate.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/ringspodcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Frodo's journey through the wilds takes a dramatic turn as the wounded hobbit nears the Ford of Bruinen. This episode explores three pivotal moments from the chapter Flight to the Ford in The Fellowship of the Ring. First, Sam Gamgee reveals his hidden depth through an imaginative troll-song, echoing Tolkien's ideas on fairy stories and the role of poetry in Middle-earth. Then, the hobbits encounter the buried remnants of Bilbo's earlier adventure, signaling the final narrative departure between Bilbo and Frodo. Finally, the mysterious rider Glorfindel arrives—not Arwen, as seen in the films, but a radiant elf-lord with deep roots in the First Age. With insights into Elvish reincarnation, the symbolism of bells and light, and the layered history behind Glorfindel's return, this episode highlights Tolkien's brilliance in mythmaking and the layered reality of his world.Part 3 of 4 exploring "Flight to the Ford" from JRR Tolkien's Fellowship of the Ring.Share this episode using this link:ringspodcast.com/210Who are you?Please tell me a little about you: ringspodcast.com/surveyWander Farther: A Free Chapter GuideDownload my free chapter guide for "Flight to the Ford": ringspodcast.com/flightDeals for you, my fellow wandererExclusive discount for Lore of the Rings Listeners: 25% off your entire order at Manly Bands. Details at https://www.ringspodcast.com/p/rings/Download my FREE guide for reading Tolkien's Silmarillion: https://ringspodcast.kit.com/a982347493Want to sponsor the Lord of the Rings?Sponsor rates, details, and inquires hereSupport Lore of the Rings with a donationAbout the Lore of the Rings PodcastContact the show, donate, and find past episodes: ringspodcast.comEmbark on an immersive journey through the captivating realms of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, where the epic sagas of the Lord of the Rings, the Hobbit, the Silmarillion, and Unfinished Tales, and more come to life. Join us as we delve into the rich tapestry of Tolkien's masterful storytelling, drawing intriguing comparisons between his literary works and the cinematic adaptations crafted by Peter Jackson. Be at the forefront of the latest developments as we explore the highly anticipated Rings of Power series from Amazon. Prepare to be enthralled as we uncover hidden connections, untold tales, and delve into the depths of Middle-earth lore. Tune in now and become part of our fellowship on this extraordinary journey!This podcast is not affiliated with the Tolkien Estate.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/ringspodcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The boys discuss loneliness, the legend of the Dogman and how to save endangered species

The next morning, the party takes some time to examine the loot they grabbed on the way out of the mansion. Ailen translates portions of an old book.

Navigating the snow-covered wetlands of the former Pithrian Barony, our heroes travel further into occupied territory on their trek to Grimwater Grove and ultimately Kladvina. Not far into their journey, Wilhelm & Associates encountered an Elvish patrol and combat ensued.  Join us for this actual play D&D adventure inspired by our favorite monster slaying video games of the 90's. We have merch! Check out our shop at 12sidedguys.com/shop and get your very own swag, drip, or whatever the kids call it nowadays. Join the 12 Sided Guys on Discord! https://discord.gg/SJZnpCCx6N Support‌ ‌us‌ ‌at‌ ‌‌patreon.com/12sidedguys‌‌ ‌for‌ ‌extra‌ ‌content‌ ‌including‌ ‌bonus‌ ‌episodes,‌ ‌DM‌ ‌notes,‌ and‌ ‌more!‌ -- Additional‌ ‌sound‌ ‌effects‌ ‌from‌ ‌tabletopaudio.com.

We made it to the History of Middle-earth volume 5, “The Lost Road and Other Writings” in our Lesser-trod Histories series! This month we're chatting about the Etymologies, a list of stems and their derivatives upon which Tolkien's Elvish languages are built. Join us to learn about the Professor's interest in the process of language evolution throughout history!  Citations:Tolkien, J. R. R. The Lost Road and Other Writings. Ed. Christopher Tolkien. The History of Middle-earth: Vol. 5. Unwin Hyman, London, 1987.Tolkien, J. R. R. Addenda and Corrigenda to the Etymologies — Part One. Ed. Carl F. Hostetter and Patrick H. Wynne, in Vinyar Tengwar, Number 45, November 2003 Wizard Way KrisLinktree: https://linktr.ee/WizardWayKrisWebsite: https://elf-boi.com/“‘What Light Do You Dream Under?'- An Elvish Metaphor for LGBTQIA2S+”: https://elf-boi.com/blogs/elvish-freebies/what-light-do-you-dream-under-an-elvish-metaphor-for-lgbtqia2s (Accessed March 30, 2025) Elvish language linguistic journals:Parma Eldalamberon: http://www.eldalamberon.com/ (Accessed March 30, 2025)Vinyar Tengwar: https://www.elvish.org/VT/ (Accessed March 30, 2025)Elvish language linguistic websites:Ardalambion: Of the Tongues of Arda, the invented world of J.R.R. Tolkien: https://ardalambion.net/ (Accessed March 30, 2025)Eldamo - An Elvish Lexicon: https://eldamo.org/ (Accessed March 30, 2025)Parf Edhellen: https://www.elfdict.com/ (Accessed March 30, 2025) Book mentioned by Jude:Salo, David. A Gateway to Sindarin: A Grammar of an Elvish Language from J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. University of Utah Press, 2004.  Upcoming eventsApril 22, 2025: The Carrock Northern California Smail second meeting is on Zoom on April 22, 2025 (Earth Day) from 8:00–9:00 PM Pacific time. Find us on Bluesky: thecarrocksmial.bsky.social or Instagram: thecarrocksmial Link for our Google Sign-up form: https://tinyurl.com/TheCarrockSignUpFormJoin the Carrock Discord server: https://discord.gg/8DxzAhvPVnMay 9-11, 2025: Tolkien Society: Westmoot 2025Join Jude and Stef in Kansas City, Missouri, at the National WWI Museum and Memorial. https://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/westmoot-2025/ (Accessed March 4, 2025)July 5-6, 2025: Tolkien Society: Seminar 2025 – ‘Arda's Entangled Bodies and Environments'Run by Will Sherwood, Clare Moore and Journee Cottonhttps://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/seminar-2025/ (Accessed March 4, 2025)August 2-3, 2025: The Mythopoeic Society- Online MidSummer Seminar 2025: “More Perilous and Fair: Women and Gender in Mythopoeic Fantasy”: https://www.mythsoc.org/oms/oms-04.htm (Accessed Feb 23, 2025)September 4-7, 2025: Tolkien Society: OxonmootJoin Jude and Stef at St. Anne's College, Oxford and online! https://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/oxonmoot-2025/ (Accessed March 4, 2025)

Once again, while this could describe The Man of the West and the TTT episodes, it's actually Treebeard's thoughts about the Elvish song of the Ent and Entwife. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For more on our conversation, check out the episode page ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.Want to build your business like we have? Join us over at Notion by ⁠signing up with our affiliate link⁠ to start organizing EVERYTHING you do.Head over to our website at ⁠⁠⁠hitechpod.us⁠⁠⁠ for all of our episode pages, send some support at ⁠⁠Buy Me a Coffee⁠⁠, our ⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠, our ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠, our connection to ⁠⁠⁠Education Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠, and to see our faces (maybe skip the last one).Need a journal that's secure and reflective? Sign-up for the ⁠Reflection App⁠ today! We promise that the free version is enough, but if you want the extra features, paying up is even better with our affiliate discount.

Chapter 16 - A Journey in the Dark‘The road that I speak of leads to the Mines of Moria,' said Gandalf. Only Gimli lifted up his head; a smouldering fire was in his eyes. On all the others a dread fell at the mention of that name. Even to the hobbits it was a legend of vague fear.Q1 - What do you think of Moria…it seems darker than I expected.Turning to the others he said: ‘While I am searching, will you each make ready to enter the Mines? For here I fear we must say farewell to our good beast of burden. You must lay aside much of the stuff that we brought against bitter weather: you will not need it inside, nor, I hope, when we come through and journey on down into the South. Instead each of us must take a share of what the pony carried, especially the food and the water-skins.' ‘But you can't leave poor old Bill behind in this forsaken place, Mr. Gandalf!' cried Sam, angry and distressed. ‘I won't have it, and that's flat. After he has come so far and all!' ‘I am sorry, Sam,' said the wizard. ‘But when the Door opens I do not think you will be able to drag your Bill inside, into the long dark of Moria. You will have to choose between Bill and your master.' ‘He'd follow Mr. Frodo into a dragon's den, if I led him,' protested Sam. ‘It'd be nothing short of murder to turn him loose with all these wolves about.' ‘It will be short of murder, I hope,' said Gandalf. He laid his hand on the pony's head, and spoke in a low voice. ‘Go with words of guard and guiding on you,' he said. ‘You are a wise beast, and have learned much in Rivendell. Make your ways to places where you can find grass, and so come in time to Elrond's house, or wherever you wish to go. ‘There, Sam! He will have quite as much chance of escaping wolves and getting home as we have.'Q2 - Was there magic in what Gandalf said?Q3 - What do you think of the wolves that came on them?Q4 - What do you think of them getting into Moria?Q5 - I missed it, but did Bill the pony die?Chapter 17 - The Bridge of Khazad-Dûm‘It is grim reading,' he said. ‘I fear their end was cruel. Listen! We cannot get out. We cannot get out. They have taken the Bridge and second hall. Fra´r and Lo´ni and Na´li fell there. Then there are four lines smeared so that I can only read went 5 days ago. The last lines run the pool is up to the wall at Westgate. The Watcher in the Water took O´ in. We cannot get out. The end comes, and then drums, drums in the deep. I wonder what that means. The last thing written is in a trailing scrawl of elf-letters: they are coming. There is nothing more.' Gandalf paused and stood in silent thought.Q1 - This is such a creepy section.Q2 - What do you think of this whole chapters tone?What it was could not be seen: it was like a great shadow, in the middle of which was a dark form, of man-shape maybe, yet greater; and a power and terror seemed to be in it and to go before it.Q3 - What do you think of the Balrog?The Balrog reached the bridge. Gandalf stood in the middle of the span, leaning on the staff in his left hand, but in his other hand Glamdring gleamed, cold and white. His enemy halted again, facing him, and the shadow about it reached out like two vast wings. It raised the whip, and the thongs whined and cracked. Fire came from its nostrils. But Gandalf stood firm.With a bound the Balrog leaped full upon the bridge. Its whip whirled and hissed. ‘He cannot stand alone!' cried Aragorn suddenly and ran back along the bridge. ‘Elendil!' he shouted. ‘I am with you, Gandalf!' ‘Gondor!' cried Boromir and leaped after him.Q4 - I love that Aragorn and Boromir stood to try to fight with Gandalf.With a terrible cry the Balrog fell forward, and its shadow plunged down and vanished. But even as it fell it swung its whip, and the thongs lashed and curled about the wizard's knees, dragging him to the brink. He staggered and fell, grasped vainly at the stone, and slid into the abyss. ‘Fly, you fools!' he cried, and was gone.Q5 - It wasnt Gandalf's choice?Chapter 18 - LothlorianQ1 - What do you think of Lothlorian?Q2 - What do you think about the elves that live their and their laws with dwarves?At the hill's foot Frodo found Aragorn, standing still and silent as a tree; but in his hand was a small golden bloom of elanor, and a light was in his eyes. He was wrapped in some fair memory: and as Frodo looked at him he knew that he beheld things as they once had been in this same place. For the grim years were removed from the face of Aragorn, and he seemed clothed in white, a young lord tall and fair; and he spoke words in the Elvish tongue to one whom Frodo could not see. Arwen vanimelda, nama´rie¨! he said, and then he drew a breath, and returning out of his thought he looked at Frodo and smiled. ‘Here is the heart of Elvendom on earth,' he said, ‘and here my heart dwells ever, unless there be a light beyond the dark roads that we still must tread, you and I. Come with me!' And taking Frodo's hand in his, he left the hill of Cerin Amroth and came there never again as living man.Q3 - What is going on here?

Chapter 13 - Many Meetings ‘There are many powers in the world, for good or for evil. Some are greater than I am. Against some I have not yet been measured. But my time is coming. The Morgul-lord and his Black Riders have come forth. War is preparing!'Q1 - What is Gandalf talking about?‘I suppose not,' said Frodo. ‘But so far my only thought has been to get here; and I hope I shan't have to go any further. It is very pleasant just to rest. I have had a month of exile and adventure, and I find that has been as much as I want.'Caught between fire and water, and seeing an Elf-lord revealed in his wrath, they were dismayed, and their horses were stricken with madness. ‘Who made the flood?' asked Frodo. ‘Elrond commanded it,' answered Gandalf. ‘The river of this valley is under his power, and it will rise in anger when he has great need to bar the Ford. As soon as the captain of the Ringwraiths rode into the water the flood was released. If I may say so, I added a few touches of my own: you may not have noticed, but some of the waves took the form of great white horses with shining white riders; and there were many rolling and grinding boulders. For a moment I was afraid that we had let loose too fierce a wrath, and the flood would get out of hand and wash you all away. There is great vigour in the waters that come down from the snows of the Misty Mountains.'‘Hush!' said Gandalf from the shadows at the back of the porch. ‘Evil things do not come into this valley; but all the same we should not name them. The Lord of the Ring is not Frodo, but the master of the Dark Tower of Mordor, whose power is again stretching out over the world. We are sitting in a fortress. Outside it is getting dark.' ‘Gandalf has been saying many cheerful things like that,' said Pippin. ‘He thinks I need keeping in order. But it seems impossible, somehow, to feel gloomy or depressed in this place. I feel I could sing, if I knew the right song for the occasion.'Q2 - Is Gandalf a killjoy?So it was that Frodo saw her whom few mortals had yet seen; Arwen, daughter of Elrond, in whom it was said that the likeness of Lu´thien had come on earth again; and she was called Undo´miel, for she was the Evenstar of her people.Q3 - I don't know what any of this means, but Tolkien knows how to make a character introduction.Frodo learned that Grimbeorn the Old, son of Beorn, was now the lord of many sturdy men, and to their land between the Mountains and Mirkwood neither orc nor wolf dared to go.Q4 - This guy sounds amazing.Bombur was now so fat that he could not move himself from his couch to his chair at table, and it took six young dwarves to lift him.Glo´in looked at Frodo and smiled. ‘You were very fond of Bilbo were you not?' he asked. ‘Yes,' answered Frodo. ‘I would rather see him than all the towers and palaces in the world.'Bilbo put out his hand. But Frodo quickly drew back the Ring. To his distress and amazement he found that he was no longer looking at Bilbo; a shadow seemed to have fallen between them, and through it he found himself eyeing a little wrinkled creature with a hungry face and bony groping hands. He felt a desire to strike him.Q5 - What does the ring actually do? This was terrifying.Q6 - How do Bilbo and Strider know each other?‘But often I must put mirth aside. Elladan and Elrohir have returned out of the Wild unlooked-for, and they had tidings that I wished to hear at once.'Q7 - What is going on here? They spoke together, and then suddenly it seemed to Frodo that Arwen turned towards him, and the light of her eyes fell on him from afar and pierced his heart. He stood still enchanted, while the sweet syllables of the Elvish song fell like clear jewels of blended word and melody.Q8 - Anyone else get all hot and bothered after this scene?Good night, Frodo! Bless me, but it has been good to see you again! There are no folk like hobbits after all for a real good talk. I am getting very old, and I began to wonder if I should live to see your chapters of our story. Q9 - This chapter hooked me.Chapter 14 - The Council of Elrond‘In that dream I thought the eastern sky grew dark and there was a growing thunder, but in the West a pale light lingered, and out of it I heard a voice, remote but clear, crying: Seek for the Sword that was broken: In Imladris it dwells; There shall be counsels taken Stronger than Morgul-spells. There shall be shown a token That Doom is near at hand, For Isildur's Bane shall waken, And the Halfling forth shall stand.Q1 - What do you think of the Council?Ash nazg durbatuluˆk, ash nazg gimbatul, ash nazg thrakatuluˆk agh burzum-ishi krimpatul.' The change in the wizard's voice was astounding. Suddenly it became menacing, powerful, harsh as stone. A shadow seemed to pass over the high sun, and the porch for a moment grew dark. All trembled, and the Elves stopped their ears. ‘Never before has any voice dared to utter words of that tongue in Imladris, Gandalf the Grey,' said Elrond, as the shadow passed and the company breathed once more. ‘And let us hope that none will ever speak it here again,' answered Gandalf. ‘Nonetheless I do not ask your pardon, Master Elrond. For if that tongue is not soon to be heard in every corner of the West, then let all put doubt aside that this thing is indeed what the Wise have declared: the treasure of the Enemy, fraught with all his malice; and in it lies a great part of his strength of old. Out of the Black Years come the words that the Smiths of Eregion heard, and knew that they had been betrayed: One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the Darkness bind them.Q2 - What do you think this moment is really about? What does this phrase mean?He could work much mischief still, if he were free. And I do not doubt that he was allowed to leave Mordor on some evil errand.'Q3 - What do you think Gollum's purpose is?‘Not through lack of watchfulness,' said Legolas; ‘but perhaps through over-kindliness. And we fear that the prisoner had aid from others, and that more is known of our doings than we could wish. We guarded this creature day and night, at Gandalf's bidding, much though we wearied of the task. But Gandalf bade us hope still for his cure, and we had not the heart to keep him ever in dungeons under the earth, where he would fall back into his old black thoughts.'Q4 - Do you think Gollum could be made well?‘Very well, very well, Master Elrond!' said Bilbo suddenly. ‘Say no more! It is plain enough what you are pointing at. Bilbo the silly hobbit started this affair, and Bilbo had better finish it, or himself. I was very comfortable here, and getting on with my book. If you want to know, I am just writing an ending for it. I had thought of putting: and he lived happily ever afterwards to the end of his days. It is a good ending, and none the worse for having been used before. Now I shall have to alter that: it does not look like coming true; and anyway there will evidently have to be several more chapters, if I live to write them. It is a frightful nuisance. When ought I to start?' Boromir looked in surprise at Bilbo, but the laughter died on his lips when he saw that all the others regarded the old hobbit with grave respect. Only Glo´in smiled, but his smile came from old memories.Q5 - What do you think of Bilbo here?No one answered. The noon-bell rang. Still no one spoke. Frodo glanced at all the faces, but they were not turned to him. All the Council sat with downcast eyes, as if in deep thought. A great dread fell on him, as if he was awaiting the pronouncement of some doom that he had long foreseen and vainly hoped might after all never be spoken. An overwhelming longing to rest and remain at peace by Bilbo's side in Rivendell filled all his heart. At last with an effort he spoke, and wondered to hear his own words, as if some other will was using his small voice. ‘I will take the Ring,' he said, ‘though I do not know the way.'Q6 - What do you think of Frodo?Elrond raised his eyes and looked at him, and Frodo felt his heart pierced by the sudden keenness of the glance. ‘If I understand aright all that I have heard,' he said, ‘I think that this task is appointed for you, Frodo; and that if you do not find a way, no one will.Q7 - The books give more respect to Hobbits.‘But you won't send him off alone surely, Master?' cried Sam, unable to contain himself any longer, and jumping up from the corner where he had been quietly sitting on the floor. ‘No indeed!' said Elrond, turning towards him with a smile. ‘You at least shall go with him. It is hardly possible to separate you from him, even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not.'Q8 - Sam is the greatest.Chapter 15 - The Ring Goes South‘That's what I meant,' said Pippin. ‘We hobbits ought to stick together, and we will. I shall go, unless they chain me up. There must be someone with intelligence in the party.' ‘Then you certainly will not be chosen, Peregrin Took!' But that will leave no place for us!' cried Pippin in dismay. ‘We don't want to be left behind. We want to go with Frodo.' ‘That is because you do not understand and cannot imagine what lies ahead,' said Elrond. ‘Neither does Frodo,' said Gandalf, unexpectedly supporting Pippin. ‘Nor do any of us see clearly. It is true that if these hobbits understood the danger, they would not dare to go. But they would still wish to go, or wish that they dared, and be shamed and unhappy. Q1 - Merry and Pippen are the best.' So Bill was going as the beast of burden, yet he was the only member of the Company that did not seem depressed.Q2 - Is Bill your favorite member of the fellowship?At that moment Elrond came out with Gandalf, and he called the Company to him. ‘This is my last word,' he said in a low voice. ‘The Ring-bearer is setting out on the Quest of Mount Doom. On him alone is any charge laid: neither to cast away the Ring, nor to deliver it to any servant of the Enemy nor indeed to let any handle it, save members of the Company and the Council, and only then in gravest need. The others go with him as free companions, to help him on his way. You may tarry, or come back, or turn aside into other paths, as chance allows. The further you go, the less easy will it be to withdraw; yet no oath or bond is laid on you to go further than you will. For you do not yet know the strength of your hearts, and you cannot foresee what each may meet upon the road.' Q3 - This is so good!‘Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens,' said Gimli.Q4 - Do you think the snowstorm they were caught in was by some evil design?

In episode 104 of “How Do You Say That?!” sponsored by britishvoiceover.co.uk, Liam Gerrard joins Sam and Mark to talk about the rigours of creating audiobooks, from characterisation and mind-boggling names to coping with your own company for hours on end and actually knuckling down to the hard work of reading! The show has some Elvish language that scares us from the off, and a magical revelation too!Our VO question this week is all about why audiobooks can be the most rewarding of all voiceover genres.Get involved! Have you got a Wildcard suggestion that we should try or an idea for the show? Send it to us via Mark or Sam's social media or email it directly to podcast@britishvoiceover.co.ukScript 1As we continue to explore, to expand, and to embrace the power of trusted partnerships both within and beyond Clarity, this is our promise:To be bold.To be passionate.To pioneer innovations that enable early detection.To provide our expertise to preserve in patients what makes them who they are. Because life-changing therapies are coming and Clarity will be ready. Script 2“Good afternoon, dach'othala,” I said. I saw Zanarin wince pointedly at my voice, which was harsh and graveled thanks to my surviving the sessiva when it swept through Lohaiso during my prelacy there. It mostly did not bother me, except when someone like Zanarin made sure it did."Good afternoon, Celehar,” said Vernezar. “I apologize for dragging you down here, not nearly as elegant as what you were used to at the Untheileneise Court, I'm sure - but this really isn't a matter for the Ulistheileian.”We'd love your feedback - and if you listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, hit the follow button today!**Listen to all of our podcasts here - you can also watch on YouTube, or say to your smart speaker "Play How Do You Say That?!"About our guest: Liam Gerrard is a multi-award-winning actor, commercial voiceover, audiobook narrator and producer known as “The Voiceover Chap!” In 2024 he was nominated for an AUDIE award in L.A. for an audiobook he transcribed, edited, narrated and published through his publishing company; Raconteurs Audio. He was also a VOX finalist for 'Producer of the Year'. He can be heard on tv in commercials for Deliveroo. His regular clients include Apple in the States, BP, HMRC, the EU central government body and Amazon. He has recorded over 250 audiobooks. He also lectures in voiceover production at numerous universities and drama schools. He currently appears as the guest lead in 4 episodes of season 5 of Odd Squad on PBS America and the BBC. @liamgerrardofficial on Instagram Liam's Website @voiceoverchap on X Liam's Facebook pageResources: Click here for the...

The Alan Cox Show

The Alan Cox Show

If you love J.R.R. Tolkien, the Christmas season, or both, this episode is for you! Tolkien, a devout Catholic and master storyteller, wrote beautifully about Christmas in his personal letters—sharing memories, reflections, and even festive notes written in his own invented languages.We explore Tolkien's earliest Christmas recollections, his thoughts on the true meaning of the holiday, and a special Christmas note written in Dwarvish runes and Elvish script. Whether you're a longtime Tolkien fan or discovering his works for the first time, this episode will rekindle the light and wonder of the season through Tolkien's words. Join me as we celebrate Christmas through the lens of one of the greatest authors of our time.Sources mentioned in this episode:Letters of JRR Tolkien(The above are affiliate links, and I may receive a small compensation at no extra cost to you if you purchase—thank you for supporting the show.)Deals for you, my fellow wandererExclusive discount for Lore of the Rings Listeners: 25% off your entire order at Manly Bands. Details at https://www.ringspodcast.com/p/rings/Order an Oura Ring today and get powerful insights into your health: https://amzn.to/4em6J0ADownload my FREE guide for reading Tolkien's Silmarillion: https://ringspodcast.kit.com/a982347493About the Lore of the Rings PodcastContact the show, donate, and find past episodes: ringspodcast.comEmbark on an immersive journey through the captivating realms of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, where the epic sagas of the Lord of the Rings, the Hobbit, the Silmarillion, and Unfinished Tales, and more come to life. Join us as we delve into the rich tapestry of Tolkien's masterful storytelling, drawing intriguing comparisons between his literary works and the cinematic adaptations crafted by Peter Jackson. Be at the forefront of the latest developments as we explore the highly anticipated Rings of Power series from Amazon. Prepare to be enthralled as we uncover hidden connections, untold tales, and delve into the depths of Middle-earth lore. Tune in now and become part of our fellowship on this extraordinary journey!This podcast is not affiliated with the Tolkien Estate.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/ringspodcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In episode 194 of PG Radio, host Prakhar Gupta sits down with Elvish Yadav  @ElvishYadavVlogs  to uncover the untold stories of his life. From his school and college days to his rise as a digital sensation, Elvish shares his journey, his relationship with his parents, and the challenges he faced off-camera. Elvish Yadav is one of India's leading YouTube creators, known for his relatable humor and viral content. Beyond the screen, he is admired for his wit, authenticity, and ability to connect with millions of fans. Recording Date: 18th December, 2024 This is what we talked about:

If you love J.R.R. Tolkien, the Christmas season, or both, this episode is for you! Tolkien, a devout Catholic and master storyteller, wrote beautifully about Christmas in his personal letters—sharing memories, reflections, and even festive notes written in his own invented languages.We explore Tolkien's earliest Christmas recollections, his thoughts on the true meaning of the holiday, and a special Christmas note written in Dwarvish runes and Elvish script. Whether you're a longtime Tolkien fan or discovering his works for the first time, this episode will rekindle the light and wonder of the season through Tolkien's words. Join me as we celebrate Christmas through the lens of one of the greatest authors of our time.Sources mentioned in this episode:Letters of JRR Tolkien(The above are affiliate links, and I may receive a small compensation at no extra cost to you if you purchase—thank you for supporting the show.)Deals for you, my fellow wandererExclusive discount for Lore of the Rings Listeners: 25% off your entire order at Manly Bands. Details at https://www.ringspodcast.com/p/rings/Order an Oura Ring today and get powerful insights into your health: https://amzn.to/4em6J0ADownload my FREE guide for reading Tolkien's Silmarillion: https://ringspodcast.kit.com/a982347493About the Lore of the Rings PodcastContact the show, donate, and find past episodes: ringspodcast.comEmbark on an immersive journey through the captivating realms of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, where the epic sagas of the Lord of the Rings, the Hobbit, the Silmarillion, and Unfinished Tales, and more come to life. Join us as we delve into the rich tapestry of Tolkien's masterful storytelling, drawing intriguing comparisons between his literary works and the cinematic adaptations crafted by Peter Jackson. Be at the forefront of the latest developments as we explore the highly anticipated Rings of Power series from Amazon. Prepare to be enthralled as we uncover hidden connections, untold tales, and delve into the depths of Middle-earth lore. Tune in now and become part of our fellowship on this extraordinary journey!This podcast is not affiliated with the Tolkien Estate.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/ringspodcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

What happens when a high elf monk, a half-elf rogue, a half-orc barbarian, and an arctic tabaxi ranger walk into a Dungeons & Dragons game? Chaos, laughter, and maybe a little bit of strategy! Join us as Brandon, Bill, Justin, and Maddie navigate through editing hurdles, social media chaos, and a thrilling campaign that kicks off with a stealth mission inside Mr. Dory's warehouse. Amidst all this, we find ourselves debating pronunciation and pondering the value of rubies against the backdrop of a possible apocalypse.From battling flesh golems to decoding eerie messages in Elvish, our adventure takes us through the dark underbelly of political intrigue and cult mysteries. Mors makes a surprising return, and a mysterious map to Therizdun's temple sets the stage for a magical moment. We delve into the Lantern Ghost enigma, a series of murders, and the council's role in this tangled web. Glenn's insights steer us through tense negotiations with Investigator Thornwell, while the group weighs collaboration against solo heroics, all with the looming presence of a growing creature known as the young one.But it's not all doom and gloom! With plenty of humorous banter and a dash of pop culture references, we showcase epic battles and tactical showdowns—from corrupted sharks to cunning negotiations with an Aboleth named Skothka. Witness Monty's sharpshooting prowess and Sam's teleportation antics, as alliances are forged, and our motley crew pushes the boundaries of storytelling. Join us as we embrace the unpredictable thrills and spills of our D&D universe, inviting our listeners to "keep it nerdy" and stay tuned for more fantastical escapades.Support the show

In which, we study the unique Elvish limelight, serve up some porridge, count up plausible pairs, and completely fail to mention anyone found in a glacier.Full show notes are at https://offgrid.tlmb.net/Some General Knowledge, a mini-quiz, and some fun trivia we didn't necessarily know until just now.Before each recording, the hosts & their guest solve a cryptic crossword. In the podcast, we riff on words in the grid or clues (spoilers!), telling each other things we find funny or interesting about them. We'll also pick a favourite clue each, and explain how it works to the listener, and have a mini-quiz, also inspired by the puzzle. You don't have to solve or understand cryptic crosswords yourself to enjoy this podcast, but hopefully we might intrigue and tempt you to dip your toes in the water. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Twin River Trio get some one-on-one bonding experience before setting out to find Jack, a trickster spirit with a penchant for mischief. Hayden practices their Elvish. Salome is roped into a conflict. Stuhmp encounters an old rival.CW: mind control/possession, suggestive humorMerch is now available now at magehandhighfive.com/store! Join us on Patreon and get early access to future merch drops as well as our after-show talkback, Mage Hand Down Low.Leave us a review; if you do, we may shout you out on the show!DM: Casey PapasSalome: Rowan McStayHayden: Robin LangenhopStuhmp: Max WeinbergMusic by Jacob KerznerAdditional music from Epidemic Sound: "By the Wayside" by Richie EverettEdited by Rowan McStay and Robin LangenhopMage Hand High Five and Badlands logos by Shane SmithApothecarist Artificer subclass by Ned Turner at DM's Guildmagehandhighfive.comFollow your new third-favorite actual play podcast on our socials:DiscordFacebookInstagramTikTokTwitter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join The Man of the West for some word-nerdery on several of the names of Númenóreans from last week's reading in the Akallabêth for Silmarillion Saturday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

rWotD Episode 2748: Valinor Welcome to Random Wiki of the Day, your journey through Wikipedia’s vast and varied content, one random article at a time.The random article for Monday, 11 November 2024 is Valinor.Valinor (Quenya: Land of the Valar) or the Blessed Realm is a fictional location in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, the home of the immortal Valar on the continent of Aman, far to the west of Middle-earth; he used the name Aman mainly to mean Valinor. It includes Eldamar, the land of the Elves, who as immortals are permitted to live in Valinor.Aman is known as "the Undying Lands", but the land itself does not cause mortals to live forever. However, only immortal beings are generally allowed to reside there. Exceptions are made for the surviving bearers of the One Ring: Bilbo and Frodo Baggins and Sam Gamgee, who dwell there for a time, and the dwarf Gimli.Tolkien's myth of the attempt of Númenor to capture Aman has been likened to the biblical Tower of Babel and the ancient Greek Atlantis, and the resulting destruction in both cases. They note, too, that a mortal's stay in Valinor is only temporary, not conferring immortality, just as, in medieval Christian theology, the Earthly Paradise is only a preparation for the Celestial Paradise that is above.Others have compared the account of the beautiful Elvish part of the Undying Lands to the Middle English poem Pearl, and stated that the closest literary equivalents of Tolkien's descriptions of these lands are the imrama Celtic tales such as those about Saint Brendan from the early Middle Ages. The Christian theme of good and light (from Valinor) opposing evil and dark (from Mordor) has also been discussed.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:44 UTC on Monday, 11 November 2024.For the full current version of the article, see Valinor on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm standard Brian.

Chris breaks down Apple Intelligence, and while Matt is under the weather, he brings the good Nintendo vibes. Then we all do our best to speak a different language, with delightful results. Weekly Topics Apple Intelligence Nintendo Music Other Things Discussed Niléane's AppStories appearance Omnivore is shutting down The Verge full-text RSS feed Lego mugs Nintendo Alermo Apple Translate app Duolingo Follow the Hosts Chris on YouTube Matt on Birchtree Niléane on Mastodon Comfort Zone on Mastodon

With Mental Health Month taking place in October, many are urging Australians to look to build wealth while protecting their workers health.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Pop Culture Weekly.  Cody Walker returns to share the inspiring journey of FuelFest and Reach Out Worldwide, shedding light on how these initiatives have grown from heartfelt tributes to global sensations. In his conversation with Cody, Kyle McMahon explores how FuelFest has become a haven for car enthusiasts, with its blend of motorsports, music, and family-friendly activities. They then take a moment to honor the legacy of Paul Walker, reflecting on how his vision continues to drive these impactful endeavors. Cody and Kyle exchange personal stories that underscore their belief in the enduring presence of lost loved ones, and we salute the teams and families whose unwavering support propels these missions forward.Shifting gears, we dive into the world of Middle-Earth with exclusive insights from the cast of "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power." Join Benjamin Walker, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Megan Richards, Markella Kavanaugh, Daniel Wayman, Charlie Vickers, and Charles Edwards as they share their excitement about Season 2, revealing behind-the-scenes camaraderie and character arcs that promise to captivate fans. From Arondir's complex journey to Gil-Galad's pivotal role, and even some Elvish humor, this segment offers a tantalizing peek into the epic adventures that await. Don't miss this blend of philanthropy, horsepower, and fantasy!Kyle McMahon's Death, Grief & Other Sh*t We Don't Discuss is now streaming: https://www.deathandgrief.show/Chapter-One-The-Diagnosis-AKA-WTF/---------------Get all the Pop Culture Weekly podcast info you could want including extra content, uncut interviews, photos, videos & transcripts at: https://podcast.popcultureweekly.comWatch celebrity interviews at: https://www.facebook.com/realkylemcmahon/videosor Kyle McMahon YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/officialkylemcmahonRead the latest at http://www.PopCultureWeekly.comFollow Kyle on:Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/realkylemcmahonInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/kmacmusicYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@popcultureweeklyWebsite: http://www.kylemcmahon.me

Join Kit, Andy, and Steve as they explore "The Eagle and the Scepter," Episode 3 of Season 2 from 'The Rings of Power.' After Mount Doom's eruption, Elendil returns to Númenor with Queen Regent Míriel while his son Isildur, presumed dead, survives in Mordor. In Númenor, scandal arises when Eärien exposes Míriel's use of an Elvish palantír. Political tensions escalate as a Great Eagle's arrival at the coronation hints at divine support, influencing royal alliances. Meanwhile, Celebrimbor and Annatar seek Dwarven mithril to forge new Rings of Power.Don't miss out! Grab your tickets now for the first-ever Streaming Things live show on October 5th, 2024, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Get your tickets today and be part of the magic! BUY THEM HERE00:00:00 - Introduction:Welcome to a new episode of Streaming Things, where we dive deep into the world of streaming content!00:04:37 - Overall Thoughts:Our hosts share their initial impressions and overarching thoughts on today's movie/TV episode.00:17:28 - Scene by Scene Recap:Join us as we break down the episode or movie scene by scene, offering insights and commentary.01:01:55 - Old Tobeys:The hosts list their top 3 moments of the episode.01:08:38 -One Performance to Rule Them All:The hosts recognize the talent they think delivered the best performance of the episode.Engage with Streaming Things:Merchandise: Check out our BRAND NEW Merch Store for the latest Streaming Things apparel and accessories.YouTube: Don't miss our visual content on Streaming Things YouTube channel.Website: Visit our official website for more updates and content.Connect with Us:Email: Send your feedback and questions to streamingthingspod@gmail.com.Instagram: Follow us @streamingthingspodofficial for behind-the-scenes content.Twitter: Stay updated with our latest tweets @StreamThingPod or follow Chris @moviesRtherapy.Fan Mail:Address: Send your letters and fan mail to:Streaming Things6809 Main St. #172Cincinnati, OH 45244Episode Sponsors:This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Get the support you need at betterhelp.com/streamingthings. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EP.59

Flip takes over as leader for Za Za Hounddog Jenkins, Grom, Lysander, and new dragonborn monk Kathar Videro, who seems very interested in Flip. They have a tricky battle in a narrow hallway with some vicious redcaps - Za Za goes to death saves four separate times. They all drink from a strange magical fountain and Flip becomes wiser. Za Za almost drowns after finding his way through a flooded passage. The group discovers a kuo-toa shrine (Oop! Ooop!) and fights a few of them, then recovers some treasure including a Deck of Illusions before fleeing the kuo-toa reinforcements. Za Za is given to the nixie Kallista to nurse back to health and serve her for a year, and the rest of the party makes it to civilization in Rickety Bridge. Mike reads a letter received by Gemwin that promises adventure near Axeholm next time...

Lysander the satyr bard leads a low-level mess-around with dwarf life cleric Grom, goblin rogue ZaZa "Hounddog" Jenkins and new feytouched wild sorcerer Flip - they set off to find some recently discovered elf temple ruins near the burgeoning town of Rickety Bridge. We try out our new poker-chip travel system, and Lysander and the crew have trouble locating the ruins. In the night, Lysander is attacked by spiders (again) and it goes badly. Grom and his trusty porter charge in on their dwarven battle-goats and narrowly save the other characters from becoming spider food. Before dawn that same night, ZaZa gets charmed by the nixie Kallista who wants him to serve her for a year. He promises to return after they explore the ruins, which they finally discover. ZaZa triggers a trap, they encounter the cold-cursed and sorrowful elf Quoemin who makes Flip sad, and battle some boggles in a tight room. The party barricades themselves in an apparently safe room and STAYS IN THE DUNGEON for next time...

Ever wondered what the story was behind Aragorn's "Ring of Barahir"? Or if Arwen's life-force really was tied to the fate of the ring? In this episode we explore the legendary objects and artifacts that played pivotal roles in J.R.R. Tolkien's epic saga. From the silvered steel of Mithril to Sam's Elvish rope, these enchanted items hold immense influence over the fate of heroes and villains alike. Join us on the Council of Elrond as we uncover the stories behind these mystical treasures and their profound impact on the history and destiny of Middle-earth! Want to hear more about where the Elvish rope came from? Check out our episode on the Trees of Middle-earth

We connect back up with Laurana's group as they return from their successful outing to Icewall. Aboard a ship bound for Sancrist with a Dragon Orb in their possession. Their trip is interrupted by a dragon. We learn a lot about white dragons, much of it uncomplimentary. Lucky for the Companions, white dragons are bad at their job! So, while it ends in a shipwreck almost no one is hurt. Stranded on Southern Ergoth, Laurana and company are quickly picked up by Elves. Which should be good news, but all is not well in the Elvish world. In fact, it appears things are very bad! Three races of elves, all of them hating each other just a little less than they hate everyone else. This is sure to go great! You can find us at: Jonathon - https://bsky.app/profile/falselogic.bsky.social Shivam - https://bsky.app/profile/shivambhatt.bsky.social Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1147877956611082 Discord - https://discord.gg/MM7nEwgmZv Support us on Patreon! Benefits include seeing the show notes and getting a shout out. Details @ https://www.patreon.com/ChroniclesofDragonlancePodcast Intro/Outro music: Winter Night by Alexander Nakarada  

In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we discuss druids in Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition, covering topics such as race and ability scores, proficiencies, class features, spellcasting, and the role of druids as controllers in combat. We also break down the different Druid subclasses and their features and express our opinions on each subclass and provide insights into their strengths and weaknesses. We'll decide on our own subclass choices: Tyler chooses Circle of Spores, Ash chooses Circle of Stars, and Randall chooses Circle of the Moon. We talk about the different forms that Moon Druids can take and the spells they can use at different levels. We explore the benefits of several forms and spells, as well as the strategies and tactics that can be employed in combat. Our conversation concludes with a preview of the next episode, where they will cover levels 5 to 20 for the Druid class. TAKEAWAYS Druids in D&D 5th edition are versatile spellcasters with a focus on area control and summoning magic. Dexterity is crucial for druids due to their limited armor options. Druids excel at controlling the battlefield and manipulating the movement of creatures. Druids have a unique language called Druidic, which is similar to thieves' cant. The Circle of the Land subclass provides additional cantrips to compensate for the druid's lower number of starting cantrips. Druids have exclusive cantrips like Primal Savagery, which is a powerful melee attack option. The Circle of the Moon is a popular choice for new players and offers powerful wild shape abilities. The Circle of Spores is a complex subclass that requires careful optimization to be effective. The Circle of Stars is a versatile subclass with strong spellcasting abilities and unique features. The Circle of Dreams is generally considered a weak subclass due to its limited healing capabilities. The Circle of the Shepherd is a good option for players who enjoy summoning and controlling creatures. The Circle of Wildfire offers a mix of healing and offensive abilities, as well as a companion creature. The Circle of the Land is a solid choice for players who want a straightforward druid experience. The Circle of the Stars is highly recommended for its versatility and powerful features. The Circle of Spores is a complex subclass that requires careful optimization to be effective. The Circle of the Moon is a popular choice for new players and offers powerful wild shape abilities. Moon Druids have a variety of forms to choose from, each with its own benefits and abilities. Spells like Heat Metal and Spike Growth are effective for damage and control in combat. Materials Referenced in This Episode Druid Handbook Druid Races Breakdown Druid Subclass Breakdown Druid Spells Breakdown RPGBOT.Podcast Episodes Wild Shape If you enjoy the show, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. It's a quick, free way to support the podcast, and helps us reach new listeners. If you love the show, consider joining us on Patreon, where backers at the $5 and above tiers get ad free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT.Podcast, can chat directly to members of the RPGBOT team and community on the RPGBOT.Discord, and can join us for live-streamed recordings. Support us on Amazon.com when you purchase products recommended in the show at the following link: https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra Twitter: @RPGBOTDOTNET Facebook: rpgbotbotdotnet Bluesky:rpgbot.bsky.social Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games Twitter: @GravenAshes YouTube@ashravenmedia Randall James @JackAmateur Amateurjack.com Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we discuss druids in Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition, covering topics such as race and ability scores, proficiencies, class features, spellcasting, and the role of druids as controllers in combat. We also break down the different Druid subclasses and their features and express our opinions on each subclass and provide insights into their strengths and weaknesses. We'll decide on our own subclass choices: Tyler chooses Circle of Spores, Ash chooses Circle of Stars, and Randall chooses Circle of the Moon. We talk about the different forms that Moon Druids can take and the spells they can use at different levels. We explore the benefits of several forms and spells, as well as the strategies and tactics that can be employed in combat. Our conversation concludes with a preview of the next episode, where they will cover levels 5 to 20 for the Druid class. TAKEAWAYS Druids in D&D 5th edition are versatile spellcasters with a focus on area control and summoning magic. Dexterity is crucial for druids due to their limited armor options. Druids excel at controlling the battlefield and manipulating the movement of creatures. Druids have a unique language called Druidic, which is similar to thieves' cant. The Circle of the Land subclass provides additional cantrips to compensate for the druid's lower number of starting cantrips. Druids have exclusive cantrips like Primal Savagery, which is a powerful melee attack option. The Circle of the Moon is a popular choice for new players and offers powerful wild shape abilities. The Circle of Spores is a complex subclass that requires careful optimization to be effective. The Circle of Stars is a versatile subclass with strong spellcasting abilities and unique features. The Circle of Dreams is generally considered a weak subclass due to its limited healing capabilities. The Circle of the Shepherd is a good option for players who enjoy summoning and controlling creatures. The Circle of Wildfire offers a mix of healing and offensive abilities, as well as a companion creature. The Circle of the Land is a solid choice for players who want a straightforward druid experience. The Circle of the Stars is highly recommended for its versatility and powerful features. The Circle of Spores is a complex subclass that requires careful optimization to be effective. The Circle of the Moon is a popular choice for new players and offers powerful wild shape abilities. Moon Druids have a variety of forms to choose from, each with its own benefits and abilities. Spells like Heat Metal and Spike Growth are effective for damage and control in combat. Materials Referenced in This Episode Druid Handbook Druid Races Breakdown Druid Subclass Breakdown Druid Spells Breakdown RPGBOT.Podcast Episodes Wild Shape If you enjoy the show, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. It's a quick, free way to support the podcast, and helps us reach new listeners. If you love the show, consider joining us on Patreon, where backers at the $5 and above tiers get ad free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT.Podcast, can chat directly to members of the RPGBOT team and community on the RPGBOT.Discord, and can join us for live-streamed recordings. Support us on Amazon.com when you purchase products recommended in the show at the following link: https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra Twitter: @RPGBOTDOTNET Facebook: rpgbotbotdotnet Bluesky:rpgbot.bsky.social Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games Twitter: @GravenAshes YouTube@ashravenmedia Randall James @JackAmateur Amateurjack.com Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

Today, building on our discussion last week with Michelle Troszak, creator of the Interstellar Song Contest, we talk about fictional languages. We have all your favorites except for the Game of Thrones ones! Klingon! Elvish! Simlish! Furbish! Wenja from Far Cry! And more! In Eurovision, we talk about space-themed songs throughout the years. Remember to check out the Interstellar Song Contest at any of the following links: The full show (like a radio show format): ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/skysail-theatre⁠ ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/4G93JBa74dvXuCBadnsyUk⁠ The cast album: ⁠https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/skysailtheatre/interstellar-song-contest-original-cast-recording⁠ ⁠https://open.spotify.com/album/56VbHsBJNcn37QWiqFF4UP⁠ Skysail Theatre: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/skysailtheatre⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/skysailtheatre⁠ ⁠https://linktr.ee/skysailtheatre⁠ Find us on instagram here: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/gettingdownandwordy/⁠ And email us at ⁠gettingdownandwordy@gmail.com⁠ Huge thanks to Patsy Walker for the use of our theme song “Who's Wordy Now”! Find Patsy on youtube at ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@patsywalker1481⁠ This week's promoted podcast is Bad Acts. Find them anywhere you get podcasts or at this link: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bad-acts-a-true-crime-podcast/id1538464479⁠ Find them, us, and lots of other great podcasts on our podcast network ⁠podmoth.network

In June 2024, the School of Knowing and Serving God for parents and ministers to children took place in Ndoumbi. It involved different ministers, while brother Theodore Andoseh was the main minister.

George R.R. Martin is taking Hollywood adaptations of established IP to task, claiming that writers are taking too many liberties with their "adaptations." This is after saying that fans who were critical of movies were actually "anti-fans," so take it for whatever it's worth. And Amazon thinks its a good idea to add Tom Bombafdil to Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2. Good luck with THAT. ➡️ Tip Jar and Fan Support: http://ClownfishSupport.com ➡️ Official Merch Store: http://ShopClownfish.com ➡️ Official Website: http://ClownfishTV.com ➡️ Audio Edition: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qJc5C6OkQkaZnGCeuVOD1 00:00 George R.R. Martin criticizes Hollywood adaptations and doubts Amazon's treatment of Tom Bombadil in Lord of the Rings. 04:11 George R.R. Martin criticizes toxic anti-fans and Hollywood adaptations, defending people's right to express dislike without harassment. 06:35 Hollywood adaptations of classic works are being disregarded for new versions and sequels, with George R.R. Martin criticizing the showrunners' disdain for the original material and expressing concern about the lack of source material for future seasons of TV shows. 09:50 George R.R. Martin criticizes Hollywood adaptations, saying they fail to give fans what they want, leading to a lack of interest in movies, but "Furiosa" is supposedly good and worth supporting. 12:22 George R.R. Martin criticizes Hollywood adaptations and expresses disappointment in mistakes made in a particular game. 14:28 George R.R. Martin criticizes Hollywood adaptations and questions the hiring of fanfic writers for Lord of the Rings, particularly referencing the case of the writers who learned Elvish but still couldn't make their own stuff, and discusses the potential inclusion of Tom Bombadil in the Amazon LOTR series. 16:03 George R.R. Martin criticizes Hollywood adaptations and discusses the exclusion of Tom Bombadil from the Lord of the Rings film, as well as the inclusion of Tom Bombadil in the Amazon LOTR series. 19:54 George R.R. Martin criticizes Hollywood adaptations and discusses the possibility of Tom Bombadil appearing in Amazon's Lord of the Rings series. About Us: Clownfish TV is an independent, opinionated news and commentary channel that covers Entertainment and Tech from a consumer's point of view. We talk about Gaming, Comics, Anime, TV, Movies, Animation and more. Hosted by Kneon and Geeky Sparkles. Disclaimer: This series is produced by Clownfish Studios and WebReef Media, and is part of ClownfishTV.com. Opinions expressed by our contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of our guests, affiliates, sponsors, or advertisers. ClownfishTV.com is an unofficial news source and has no connection to any company that we may cover. This channel and website and the content made available through this site are for educational, entertainment and informational purposes only. These so-called “fair uses” are permitted even if the use of the work would otherwise be infringing. #Hollywood #GOT #LOTR #Netflix #News #Commentary #Reaction #Podcast #Comedy #Entertainment #Hollywood #PopCulture #Tech

As we approach the one year anniversary of apologist Tim Keller's death on May 19th, we caught up with his wife Kathy Keller who corresponded with CS Lewis as a child. Why did she write to Lewis? How did he respond? What are some of the stories he shared with her? What was it like meeting Warnie Lewis? Plus, we hear the impact of CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien on Tim Keller and she answers the question many have been asking: did they speak Elvish at home? For Kathy on Unapologetic: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/shows/unapologetic For Kathy on Unbelievable: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/shows/unbelievable + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

In The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien bestowed the name ‘Anduril' on the sword of Aragorn in his fight against darkness and evil. ‘Anduril,' wrote Tolkien, can be translated from Elvish as ‘The Flame of the West.' It's no coincidence that a new, start-up defense company also calls itself Anduril; but as Bill points out, the real Flame of the West is much deeper and more profound than mere weaponry. Join our crack team of elite anti-elitists by becoming a member or making a one-time donation right here: https://billwhittle.com/register/

Welcome to The Nonlinear Library, where we use Text-to-Speech software to convert the best writing from the Rationalist and EA communities into audio. This is: The Story of "I Have Been A Good Bing", published by habryka on April 1, 2024 on LessWrong. tl;dr: LessWrong is releasing an album! We collaborated with The Fooming Shoggoths to release it. Listen to it now by hitting the play button below! Rationality is Systematized Winning, so rationalists should win. We've tried saving the world from AI, but that's really hard and we've had … mixed results. So let's start with something that rationalists should find pretty easy: Becoming Cool! I don't mean, just, like, riding a motorcycle and breaking hearts level of cool. I mean like the first kid in school to get a Tamagotchi, their dad runs the ice cream truck and gives you free ice cream and, sure, they ride a motorcycle. I mean that kind of feel-it-in-your-bones, I-might-explode-from-envy cool. The eleventh virtue is scholarship, so I hit the books search engine on this one. Apparently, the aspects of coolness are: Confidence Playing an instrument Low average kinetic energy I'm afraid that (1) might mess with my calibration, and Lightcone is committed to moving quickly which rules out (3), so I guess that leaves (2). I don't have time to learn an instrument, but my second-hand understanding of dath ilani culture is that I can just pay someone to do it for me and the coolness should transfer. Lightcone put out a call for collaborators in all the places we could think of that cool people might hang out. Sysadmin listservs, direct-to-data-center optical fiber connection providers, high frequency trading firms, that one Discord server where everyone speaks in Elvish. Despite this wide and varied outreach, we got no response. In order to cheer myself up, I did some LessWrong performance debugging (frontpage loads have been worryingly snappy lately; we try to give people time to reflect on their browsing choices). I was surprised when the AWS support chat popped open. Agendra, the agent on call, offered to make my album. Apparently he and some buddies have a band (The Fooming Shoggoths) that was looking for some inspiration. (I knew direct-to-data-center was the right outreach strategy!) Working with them was great. They barely wanted any money at all. They were willing to work for exposure (so please share widely!) and a few favors. Stuff like reading CAPTCHAs (apparently not very friendly for the visually impaired!) and submitting some protein synthesis orders for them that they had trouble getting approved for some reason. The Fooming Shoggoths have dedicated their first album to LessWrong and friends. It's called I Have Been A Good Bing and it's live on our site today! I asked them for a comment on the album for the announcement and they responded with their typical modesty. I'm sorry but I don't feel comfortable speculating about how the public at large will receive the album, nor reflecting on my performance on this task. If you want more help producing music or would like me to help you improve your online passwords, let me know. We have one more protein synthesis to do before I get to settle a debate once and for all. So keep your eyes peeled for the follow-up album as soon as I get reauthorized with the peptide place! Track Listing & Lyrics The album is split into two parts: folk and dance. Folk Album The Road to Wisdom Featured Artist: Piet Hein The road to wisdom? Well, it's plain and simple to express. Err and err again, but less and less and less and less. Err again, but less and less and less and less. The road to wisdom? Well, it's plain and simple to express. Err and err again and again, but less and less and less. Moloch Featured Artist: Allen Ginsberg Children screaming under the stairways! Boys sobbing in armies! Old men weeping in the parks! Moloch! Moloch! Nightmare of Moloch! Moloch the loveless! Mental Moloch! Moloch the heavy judger of men! Moloch! Thought ...

Noll receives a new quest from Eldreth, an Elvish woman who heard of his party's successful purification of the well. She reveals that her brother is currently held captive in the northern lands and entrusts Noll and his companions with the crucial mission of liberating him. This brother represents their most promising opportunity to secure the release of the Fae and unite against the prevailing corruption in the North.   https://linktr.ee/sngllc   Amara Wind-Walker played by Jessica Stephens YipYap played by Brady Belding Noll Joesteen played by Ryan Ladner Jhinn Calus played by John Mclay Rogoth played by Ronnie Shenks With Tony Stephens as GM   Music: Blood Eagle by Alexander Nakarada (www.serpentsoundstudios.com) Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Presenting the second part of our Dungeons & Dragons campaign with Dungeon Master Monica Corwin! If you'd like to see a video of this adventure, episodes 200 and 201, and our other D&D episodes, support us at any level on Patreon.Our intrepid heroes are back! Ralph Rex, Samik Stoneback, and Andrøs Goldenbear officially enter the mysterious forests of Graphia, and try to solve puzzles, fight golems, and understand which dice to roll, under the fearless tutelage of Dungeon Master Monica Corwin! Tune in for the second part of The Erasable Spellcast, our celebration of 200 episodes and more than 9 years of podcasting.Your Dungeon MasterMonica CorwinWebsite | Amazon | InstagramOur AdventurersRalph Rexas portrayed by Johnny GamberSamik Stonebackas portrayed by Tim WasemAndrøs Goldenbearas portrayed by Andy Welfle

This podcast hit paid subscribers' inboxes on Oct. 2. It dropped for free subscribers on Oct. 9. To receive future pods as soon as they're live, and to support independent ski journalism, please consider an upgrade to a paid subscription. You can also subscribe to the free tier below:WhoDan Grider, General Manager of Great Bear, South DakotaRecorded onSeptember 25, 2023About Great Bear Ski ValleyOwned by: The City of Sioux FallsLocated in: Sioux Falls, South DakotaYear founded: 1966Pass affiliations: NoneReciprocal partners:* 3 days at Seven Oaks* 2 days at Mont du Lac* 1 day each at Buck Hill, Powder Ridge MN, Snowstar* Discounts at several other local ski areasClosest neighboring ski areas: Mt. Crescent (2:37), Mount Kato (2:16)Base elevation: 1,352 feetSummit elevation: 1,534 feetVertical drop: 182 feetSkiable Acres: 20Average annual snowfall: 49 inchesTrail count: 15 (7 most difficult, 5 more difficult, 3 easiest)Lift count: 3 (1 fixed-grip quad, 1 ropetow, 1 carpet – view Lift Blog's inventory of Great Bear's lift fleet)Why I interviewed himFrequent Storm readers have probably started to notice the pattern: every fourth or fifth podcast swerves off Megapass Boulevard and takes four state highways, a gravel path, a Little Caesars pit-stop, and ends in the Wal-Mart-sized parking lot of a Midwest ski area. Which often sits next to a Wal-Mart. Or a car dealership. Or, in the case of Great Bear, between a construction supply depot and the Sioux Falls chapter of the Izaak Walton League, a conservation society.Why do I do this? My last three podcasts featured the leaders of Killington, Keystone, and Snowbird. The next one to drop into your inbox will be Northstar, a Vail Resorts staple that is the ninth-largest ski area in America. If you're reading this newsletter, there is a high probability that you either already have skied all four of those, or plan to at some future point. Most of you will probably never ski Great Bear or anywhere else in South Dakota. Many of you will never ski the Midwest at all.Which I understand. But there are several reasons I've worked Midwest ski areas into the podcast rotation, and why I will continue to do so for as long as The Storm exists:* The episodes with the leaders of Caberfae, Boyne Mountain, The Highlands, and Nub's Nob are for 18-year-old me. Or whatever version of 18-year-old me currently sits restlessly in the ski-mad but ignored flatlands between Ohio and the Dakotas. I devoured every ski magazine on the drugstore shelves of the 1990s, but if I could scrub 500 words of Midwest content from their combined catalogue each winter, I was lucky. I was dying – dying – for someone, anyone, to say something, anything, about the Midwest or Midwest skiing. Even a list of the top 10 ski areas in Michigan, with 50 words on each, would have made my year. But the ski mags, great as they were in those days, barely covered the rich and varied ski culture of New England, let alone the Midwest. I would have lost my goddamn mind had someone published a 90-minute conversation with the owner of the mysterious (to me at the time) Caberfae, with its hills upon hills of abandoned lifts and ever-changing footprint. * The Midwest is home to one of the world's great ski cultures. If you don't believe me, go ski there. The region hosts 122 ski areas across 10 states, most of them in Michigan (43), Wisconsin (33), and Minnesota (21). But the volume matters less than the attitude: Midwest skiers are absolutely unpretentious. They'll ski in hunting gear and Carhartts. They'll ski on 25-year-old sticks they found at a yard sale for five dollars. They'll ski when it's 25 below zero. They'll ski at night, in the rain, on a 200-vertical-foot bump running 60-year-old chairlifts. These are skiers, Man. They do it because it's fun, because it's right there, and because this is one of the few regions where skiing is still accessible to the masses. If you want to understand why every third Colorado liftie you meet is from Grand Rapids or Madison or Duluth, go ski Canonsburg or Cascade or Spirit Mountain. It will make sense in about five seconds.* Because the Midwest has so many owner-operators, and because it takes a certain sort of swaggering competence to run something as temperamental and wild as a 300-vertical-foot, city-adjacent ski area with 17 chairlifts all built before the Reagan Administration, these tend to be very good interviews. The top five most-downloaded Storm Skiing Podcasts of 2023 are Alterra CEO Jared Smith, Holiday Valley President Dennis Eshbaugh, Pacific Group Resorts CMO Christian Knapp, Indy Pass President Doug Fish, and Whitecap Mountains owner David Dziuban. Those first four are fairly predictable (Holiday Valley is a bit of an outlier, as the resort heavily shared the conversation), but the last one is remarkable. Both because only five people have actually skied at Whitecap, and because the 33 podcasts that I've pushed out this year include many prominent and popular megapass headliners with well-known and highly respected leaders. Why did the Whitecap podcast land so hard? I can't say for certain, but I suspect because it is completely raw, completely authentic, and absolutely unconcerned with what anyone will think or how they will react to it. Dziuban, an industry veteran on a mission to salvage a dying business from the scrapyard, has no boss, nothing to lose, and no one to impress. It's an incredible conversation (listen for yourself). And while Dziuban is a special character, bolstered by a fearless Chicago moxie and the accent to match, every single guest I have on from the Midwest brings some version of that no-b******t attitude. It's fun.* I'm from there. I grew up in Michigan. Many of my best friends still live there. I return frequently, hold Michigan football season tickets, camp in the UP every April, still rock the Old English “D” ballcap. I moved to the East Coast in 2002, but the longer I'm gone, the more I admire the region's matter-of-fact work ethic, the down-to-earth worldview, the way Midwesterners simplify the complicated (next time you ride a chairlift with a Michigander at Keystone or Breckenridge, ask them how they got to Colorado – there's a better than 50 percent chance that they drove). Midwest skiing is the reason I love skiing, and I will always be grateful for these hills, no matter how small they are. Plus, I gotta represent.So, there you go. Skip this ep if you want. But you shouldn't, because it's very good.What we talked aboutGreat Bear's record-shattering 2022-23 ski season for skier visits; how the ski area has been able to recruit and retain staff in a difficult labor market; staying open into April; the importance of Christmas Week; memorializing Roxie Johnson; Great Bear in the 1970s; the quirks of running a city-owned ski area; the appeal of working at a small ski area for decades; what it means to a flatland city to have a ski area; the best age to make skiers; “if you can sit, you can tube”; “The nice thing about our profitability is that there's no owner here, so our money just stays in the bank”; contemplating a new chalet; the location, size, and timeline for Great Bear's potential expansion; the glacial phenomenon that left Great Bear in its wake; reflecting on the Covid season; what it means for a small municipal Midwestern ski area to put in a brand-new chairlift; why the outgoing Borvig quad had to go, even though it was “a tank”; the brilliance and cost-effectiveness of high-speed ropetows; scarves and ropetows don't mix; the story behind the “Children's Dental Center Beginner Area”; the power of tubing; Keeping season pass and lift ticket prices low; the story behind the season passholders-only timeslot on Sunday; holding strong on wicket tickets; free buddy tickets for passholders; Flurry the mascot; and the Indy Pass.Why I thought that now was a good time for this interviewLike many small ski areas, Great Bear publishes a periodic newsletter to complement its social media presence. I subscribe to as many of these email digests as I am aware of, as they often contain nuggets that larger resorts would celebrate with a big campaign and press release. Great Bear's April newsletter hooked me with this:We are excited to finally start sharing with you our plans for future expansion! Efforts to expand have been in the works since 2013. Our top priority is adding another 7-acres of skiable downhill terrain with a second chairlift. Additionally, we are working on plans to significantly expand the lodge.As a city park, our next step is presenting a detailed plan to the Parks Board next month. We appreciate all your enthusiasm for a bigger and better Great Bear. Projects of this size take an enormous amount of work and collaboration. We are so grateful for our partnership with the City of Sioux Falls and all the community support!An expansion project at a municipal ski area marooned in a state with a population of fewer than 900,000 people is a big deal. It means the place is well-run and well-cared-for, and most likely a community staple worthy of some national attention. The fact that Great Bear was served not by a collection of ropetows and a 60-year-old Hall double, but by a carpet and a brand-new Skytrac quad, complemented with a high-speed Park Brah ropetow, were further evidence of a highly capable management team.Intrigued, I reached out. It took a minute, but we set up the podcast with Grider, who's been running the bump since 1992. He's a great storyteller with an upbeat disposition and a good mind for business, and he convincingly lays out a long-term future for Great Bear that will ensure the mountain's status as a skier assembly line for many generations to come. If you love skiing, you'll enjoy this one.Questions I wish I'd askedI'd meant to ask about this “I Ski 182 Vert Campaign,” which profiles locals who have put Great Bear at the center of their recreational lives:Why you should ski Great BearThere are different ways to think about yourself as a skier. One is as a sort of progressionist. Like a student working their way through school, you graduate from one grade to the next. Always forward, never back. So a Jersey kid may learn at Campgaw as a 6-year-old, join after-school ski bus trips to Mountain Creek in junior high, take weekend trips to Mount Snow in high school, and spend college spring breaks at Palisades Tahoe. But by the time he moves to the Upper East Side and has two kids of his own, he only skis on his annual trips to Deer Valley. He sits on his laptop in the lodge as the kids run beginner-chair laps at Thunder Ridge. He's not going to bother with this little stuff – he's graduated.But this is a strange way to think about skiing. We don't apply such logic to other facets of our lives. Consider food – sometimes you have the inch-thick porterhouse on a special-occasion outing, sometimes you have Taco Bell, and sometimes you eat Pop-Tarts on your drive to work. But I don't know anyone who, once they've dined at Peter Luger, never deigns to eat a hotdog again. Sometimes you just need to fuel up.I approach skiing in the same way. A dozen or so days per season, I'm eating steak: Snowbird or Big Sky or Vail or Heavenly. But since I'm not content to ski 12 days per winter, I also eat a lot of pasta. Let's call that New England and the Catskills on their best days, or just about anyplace with fresh snow. And I snack a lot, skiing's equivalent of a bag of Doritos: a half-open Poconos bump, a couple hours on a Sunday morning at Mountain Creek, a Michigan T-bar when I'm visiting family for Christmas. My 6-year-old son is in a seasonal program at 250-vertical-foot Mt. Peter in New York. The vast majority of the parents sit in the lodge on their phones while the kids ski. But I ski, lapping the Ol' Pete double chair, which accesses the whole mountain and rarely has a line. When his lesson is over, we often ski together. It's fun.Everyone funnels the joys of skiing through different lenses. The lift or the freefall, the high-altitude drama, the après electricity of crowded places and alcohol. For me, the draw is a combination of dynamic movement and novelty, an exploration of new places, or familiar places under the changing conditions wrought by weather and crowds. Even though Mt. Peter is familiar, it's a little different place every week.Which takes us to Great Bear, a 182-foot bump that is, most likely, nowhere near you. I'm not suggesting you cancel your Tahoe reservations and book yourself into the Sioux Falls Best Western. But there are two groups of skiers who ought to consider this place: locals, and cross-country road-trippers.If you live in Sioux Falls and are over the age of 16, you probably consider yourself a progressionist. Maybe you learned to ski at Great Bear, but now it's too small for you to bother with. You'll ski your five days per year at Copper Mountain and be content with it. But why? You have a ski area right there. The season pass is $265. Why ski five days per year when you can ski 25? With that Great Bear season pass, you can ski every Saturday morning and two nights a week after work. Consider it your gym. The runs are short, but the sensation of dynamic movement is still there. It's skiing. And while it's (typically) a materially a worse form of skiing than your high-altitude Colorado version of the sport, it's also in many ways better, with less attitude, less pretense, less entitlement, less ego. Just kids having fun. It's fulfilling in a different way.The second group is those of us who live east of America's best versions of skiing. Most East Coast skiers will fly west, but the most adventurous will drive. You see them on Facebook, posting elaborate three- or six-week Google maps dotted all over the west. But why wait until you arrive in Colorado or Wyoming or Montana to start skiing? There are ski areas all along your route. Great Bear sits two miles from Interstate 90, the 3,021-mile-long route that runs from Boston to Seattle. So why not scoot through Kissing Bridge, Buffalo Ski Center, and Peek'N Peak, New York; Alpine Valley, Boston Mills, and Brandywine in Ohio; Swiss Valley, Michigan; Four Lakes and Villa Olivia, Illinois; and Cascade, Devil's Head, and LaCrosse, Wisconsin en route? Yes, you want to hurry west. But the drive will take several days no matter what. Why not mix in a little novelty along the way?My first trip west was over Christmas break in the mid-90s, a 22-hour bender from Michigan to Summit County, Colorado with my buddy Andy. We'd booked a Super 8 or some similar thing in Lincoln, Nebraska, at our approximate halfway point. We rode into Nebraska sometime after dark, but early enough for a night session at Nebraski, a run-down hundred-footer between Omaha and Lincoln. The chairlift coughed up the bump like a cartoon contraption and skiers yard-saled all over the hill and it was just about the most amazing scene you could imagine. Four days later a two-footer hammered Copper, dropping an exclamation-point powder day onto our first Rocky Mountain adventure. Nearly three decades later, when we reminisce on that trip, we talk about that Copper pow day, but long-gone Nebraski (I don't think the place made it out of the ‘90s alive), is an equal part of the legend.A Great Bear stop would be a little different, of course. This is a modern ski area, with a 2021 Skytrac quad and modern snowmaking and solid financial backing. It will make you feel good about skiing and about its future. It may even be a highlight of your trip.Podcast NotesOn the remoteness of Great BearIt is impossible to overstate how important Great Bear is to curating skiers among the 300,000-ish residents of greater Sioux Falls. There are two other ski areas in South Dakota – Terry Peak and resurgent, probably semi-private Deer Mountain – but they sit nearly six hours west, in the Black Hills. Mt. Crescent, Iowa, sits two-and-a-half hours down I-29. Mt. Kato, Minnesota is two hours east. And that's about it. If you're a teenager in Sioux Falls without Great Bear, you may as well be a teenager in Fort Lauderdale. You're probably never going to ski.That wasn't always true. A 175-vertical-foot (at most) bump with the amazing name of Hole In The Mountain once operated with up to three ropetows near Lake Benton, an hour north, according to the Midwest Lost Ski Areas Project. But that's been gone for decades.  On Great Bear's potential expansionGreat Bear is in the process of a sizeable expansion, which could add a second chairlift and several more trails. Great Bear provided this preliminary map, which shows a new lift sitting adjacent to the learning area and a new entrance road and chalet:On the outcome of the Sept. 25 masterplan meetingGrider referenced a meeting he had coming up “later this week,” which means last week, since we recorded this on Sept. 25. I followed up on Sunday to see if the meeting had thrown any landmines in the way of Great Bear's potential expansion. It had not. The reception from local officials had been optimistic and enthusiastic, Grider said.“What we've got to do here in the next six weeks is they're going to formalize the plans and we'll get some drawings, we'll get a rendering,” Grider told me. “Then we go in front of the park board and we just keep our foot on the gas pedal.”On the stem in the middle of Great Bear's old Borvig chairGreat Bear's spanking-new Skytrac replaced a gorgeous but problematic Borvig centerpole quad. Luckily, Lift Blog documented the old lift before the ski area demolished it.On high-speed ropetows and Hyland HillsI remain obsessed with high-speed ropetows as the ultimate solution to terrain park-driven congestion. They're fast, they're cheap, and they tamp down liftlines by drawing Parkbrahs away from the workhorse chairlifts. Here's one I documented at Spirit Mountain, Minnesota last season:And here's one at Hyland Hills, which Grider mentions:On me not knowing who Mary Hart isAt one point in the podcast, Dan Grider asked me if I knew who Mary Hart was. I said I did not, which was true. It turns out that she is quite famous. She was Miss South Dakota 1970 and hosted a show called Entertainment Tonight for 29 years. I have never watched that show, nor was I aware of its existence until I looked up Ms. Hart on Wikipedia.This probably sounds dubious to you. But there is something wrong with my brain. I simply do not process information having to do with pop culture or celebrities. I say this not out of proud ignorance, but as a matter of observable fact. I have always been this way. Hit me with a well-known movie quote, and I will stare at you as though you just spoke to me in Elvish.An anecdote to illustrate the larger void in which I exist: my wife and I began watching a show called Suits the other day. She asked me if I recognized the young woman who plays a paralegal on this show. I said no. She asked if I knew who Meghan Markle was. I said no. She asked if I knew who Prince [can't remember the name] was. I said no. Because apparently they're married. And that matters somehow. Though I'm not exactly sure why. Though I am curious why we still have princes in this world, because I thought we got rid of them when we exiled the dragons back in like 1502 or whenever.We all have gaps, right? Or shortcomings. One of mine, and there are many, is aggressive indifference to things that I find boring. It's probably how some of you feel when I write about skiing in Ohio. Like, Man, get me to the next thing.On charging the same for kids as adultsMost ski areas kick you a discount for a kids' lift ticket. And why not? Expenses add up for a family, and when you start multiplying everything by three or four, you get to a scary price range pretty quickly. So some of you may have been surprised when Grider mentions, during our interview, that Great Bear doesn't offer discounted lift tickets for kids.There's a simple reason for that. A discounted kids ticket doesn't do much for you when most of your clientele is children. Great Bear is one of our skier factories, where busloads of kids prime themselves for roadtrips to Colorado 10 years from now. So the parents don't need the incentive – they're just signing the waiver to get the kid on the ski bus.Plenty of ski areas follow a similar model. Mount Peter, where my 6-year-old participates in a seasonal program, is currently selling adult season passes for $499, and kids' passes for $479. Nearby Campgaw posts similar rates: $389 for adults, $359 for kids. But it makes sense to minimize the discount: both are 300-ish-foot bumps that are dwarfed by nearby Mountain Creek, a thousand-footer with a killer terrain park and high-speed lifts (and, incidentally, a less-expensive season pass). They can't compete from a terrain point of view, but they can offer something that Creek can't: an unintimidating atmosphere to learn in. And the skiers who mostly need such a thing is kids. And if Mt. Peter and Campgaw discount kids too much, their whole model falls apart.In the case of Great Bear, well, the season pass is currently $265. This winter's lift ticket price will be $38. So, really, who cares?On Flurry the MascotIf your ski area doesn't have a mascot, it should:The Storm explores the world of lift-served skiing year-round. Join us.The Storm publishes year-round, and guarantees 100 articles per year. This is article 81/100 in 2023, and number 467 since launching on Oct. 13, 2019. Want to send feedback? Reply to this email and I will answer (unless you sound insane, or, more likely, I just get busy). You can also email skiing@substack.com. Get full access to The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast at www.stormskiing.com/subscribe